[en] The spectra of nuclear γ rays emitted in coincidence with π^- absorption events in carbon, nitrogen, sodium, sulfur, and calcium, were taken with a Ge(Li) detector. Yields of excited states of daughter nuclei were determined, recoil momenta were computed, and the mean number of γ rays produced per π^- stop was measured. Gross features of the spectra of daughter nuclei from ³²S and ⁴⁰Ca are explained by a model which assumes a combination of absorption on pairs plus small residual excitation, and uniform distribution of the pion's rest energy in the nucleus, followed by statistical evaporation. Some preference for excitation of high-spin states was seen. One-nucleon removal was strongly suppressed except in the case of the sodium target. An analysis of Doppler broadening indicated that nuclei of ¹²C in the 4439-keV state produced from π^- absorption on ¹⁴N have mean recoil momenta of (169 +- 6) MeV/c. This agrees with a simple calculation which assumes absorption on a deuteron. Ratios of np- to pp-removal yields were found to be about 1 for ³²S and ⁴⁰Ca, and about 3 for ²³Na. Theory predicts 3, which can be reconciled with the ³²S and ⁴⁰Ca results by correcting for enhancement of 2⁺ states of even-even nuclei. Three-nucleon removal is prominent for both ³²S and ⁴⁰Ca, and there are anomalously large yields for states corresponding to transfer of the odd neutron to the f/sub ⁷/₂/ shell. Appreciable yields are also seen for removal of the equivalent of one or more α particles from ³²S and ⁴⁰Ca. ²⁸Si produced from ³²S, and ³⁶Ar and ²⁸Si from ⁴⁰Ca display large recoil momenta. These two, together with the observation of the production of high-spin states, are suggestive of absorption on larger aggregates of nucleons, perhaps α clusters