Alexandria Gazette

A DEAN UNDER A CLOUD

The Very Rev. Dean Norman, of the Anglican Diocese of Quebec and rector of the English Episcopal Cathedral there, has resigned all his offices and emoluments and left the city under such a cloud that it recalls the recent sensational case of Canon Eyton, of Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's, Westminster.

The declarations that brought the scandal to light were obtained in a remarkable manner. John Dickson, a youth seventeen years old, was driving back to town from the country last Sunday afternoon with Blanche Dore, when they met a group of young men who knew the girl. One of them named Tanguay asked her for a ring he had given her. A quarrel followed, and, without further provocation, Dickson drew a revolver and fired at Tanguay. The ball struck George Pepin, a young man who stood beside him. The bullet was extracted a few days ago, but Pepin died in the hospital subsequently. Dickson and a companion named O'Brien were arrested an hour after the shooting. In their possession was found $2,200. Both of them are poor boys employed in shad loading in summer and having little or nothing to do in winter. The detectives thought a robbery had been committed and took possession of the money. Dickson said he had received it from Dean Norman and said it was part of some $6,000 they had received from him as 'hush money.'

Taken before a police magistrate, the boys reaffirmed their story. They described the circumstances under which the dean met them on some occasions and gave them money. They repeated their story before counsel for the diocese. The chancellor saw the dean, who admitted giving $6,500 to the boys, but denied that he had been guilty of any impropriety whatever.

As soon as the Bishop heard of the matter he sent for Norman, who is seventy years old and unmarried, and told him he wanted to hear no more of the affair, but must have his resignation immediately. He left on Friday and has either gone to western Canada or to England by way of New York.

Dr. Norman was born in England in 1829, his father having been Richard Norman, a merchant, of London, and his mother a daughter of George Stone, a Lombard street banker. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, of which he is a fellow. He was ordained in 1852 by the Bishop of Oxford, and before leaving England was principal of St. Michael's College, Tenbury, and warden of Radley College. He is a member of the St. James Club, Montreal, and the Junior University Club, London; vice chancellor of Bishop's College, Lennoxville, the principal Canadian institution for the education of the church of England clergy, and chairman of the Protestant school commissioners of Quebec. He went to Quebec twelve years ago from Montreal, where he was a canon of the Cathedral, chairman of the Protestant school board, president of the art society and a fellow of McGill University.

So highly did the Dean stand in the estimation of the people of Canada that Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, the Canadian High Commissioner in England, is on record as stating that 'he was venerated and esteemed by people of every race and religion as a divine, a scholar, an educationalist and a gentleman.'

Dickson being a minor, his parents are claiming the money found in his possession. The crown will not give it up. The father of Pepin, the murdered youth, has also instructed his lawyer to enter civil action against Dickson for depriving him of his son, and to seize the money in the hands of the court. The officers of the latter will contest the seizure on the ground that Dean Norman has averred that the money was his. The legal representatives of Pepin's father will probably plead that the money belongs to the boys, having been voluntarily given by the Dean, and thus will be dragged to light the details of the scandal.