Show A Church Choir Scandal Specal to THE HEBALD Examiner Dispatch NEW YORK Oct 3Miss Minnie Gitto a pretty brunette eighteen years old and a daughter of Joseph Gitto a welltordo tailor of Oyster Bay got a warrant from Justice Chlpp of that place last Saturday for the arrest of Thomas S Cheshire Cheshire has a business in Brooklyn anis an-is said to have considerable money of his own Miss Gitto is a member of Christs Episcopal church and of the Sunday school Cheshire sang in the choir About the middle of last week Miss Gitto confessed con-fessed to her parents that she was in trouble Gitto saw Cheshire next day He tried to prevail upon the latter to save his daughters honor by marrying her Cheshire positively refused to do so Mr Gitto however made him promise to call at his house that evening on his return from Brooklyn Upon entering Mr Gittos house that evening Cheshire found a small party assembled in the parlor Among them were the Rev Mr Washburn of Christs church Dr Frye Justice Chipp several members of the choir and prominent members of the church They all took turns entreating Cheshire to save Miss Gittos reputation by marrying her Rev Mr Washburn and Justice Chipp were each ready to officiate With tears and prayers Miss Gitto besought be-sought tim not to abandon her in her trouble trou-ble There were few dry eyes in the room and Cheshire was visibly affected but he still refused Finally it is said he arose from his seat and taking Miss Gitto by the hand led her to the center of the room where a large family Bible lay on a table Placing her hand on the Bible he asked her to swear that she had never been intimate with any one else except himself I is said that Miss Gitto hesitated ana then refused to swear The next instant she swooned away in her mothers arms Several of the ladies in the room arc said to have fainted also Cheshire left the house during the excitement excite-ment He was arrested on Saturday morning morn-ing immediately after the warrant was issued At the trial before Justice Chipp Miss Gitto had the sympathy of the crowded court room She sat in one corner dressed in black and when she raised her veil it was seen that her eyes were red with weeping She broke down several times while giving her testimony The most trying ordeal was when the defense de-fense accused her of being intimate with other members of the choir Frank Price and another young man both members of the choir were named When Miss Gitto acknowledged that the accusations were true those present could hardly believe they heard aright Still their sympathies were with the irl Justice Chipp decided that Cheshire must pay the costs of court and give bonds to support the child Cheshire Ches-hire had hardly complied with the order of the court when he was rearrested this time accused of complicity in malpractice In her complaint Miss Gitto alleges that Cheshire bought medicine for her and directed her how to use it Cheshire was arraigned again before Justice Chipp Upon the advice of his counsel he waived examination ex-amination and he was committed to the Queens county jail to await the action of the grand jury The scandal has had the effect of almost breaking up the choir of Christs church Not half of the members of the choir appeared ap-peared on Sunday A majority of them say that unless the members whose names are connected with the scandal resignthey will not remain |