By Shelley Walcott
TMJ4
October 14, 2009
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/64298362.html
[with video]
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WATERTOWN - Members of St. Bernard's Catholic Church are out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and they say one of their fellow members is to blame.
St. Bernard's is suing the member for alleged fraud. Parishioners are pointing the finger at Arthur Eith, who has attended the church for three years. They say Eith told fellow members he had a multi-million dollar business deal brewing in Nigeria, and that all he needed was some financing up front.
Eith refused to talk to TODAY'S TMJ4 for this story.
A spokesman for the Madison Diocese told us more than 30 members of St. Bernard's have lost nearly $350,000 dollars to Eith. And the church itself lost about $55,000 dollars, thanks to a parish priest who also gave Eith money.
"The good news that we'd like to get out there is that the parish itself is financially and spiritually healthy," said Brent King. "The bad news of course is that many good and trusting people are out of a lot of money."
The parish priest who gave Eith money has been put on administrative leave... Until the courts decide the outcome of this case.
The Watertown Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation, with assistance from the state Department of Justice.
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