The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-22 00:00:00

THE CONVENT CASE.

The case or " Saurin v. Starr and Kennedy," was again
before the Queen's Bench on Saturday, and it is likely, so
it is stated, to last until Thursday next. This is
mentioned as the earliest day on which it can finish, and
it may last longer. On Saturday at the opening of the
Court, the examination of the Right Rev. R. Cornthwaite,
Roman Catholic Bishop of Beverley, was proceeded with
by Mr. Charles Russell. His lordship said he was
appointed bishop in the month of September, 1861, and
that the convents in question were under his juris-
diction. It was open to him to remove a
sister whose conduct tended to produce disunion
amongst the community, or its destruction, even although
no grave fault in the individual was implied. There would
be, however, an appeal from him to the Metropolitan, and
thence to the Holy See. His decision must be founded on
evidence, but that evidence might be obtained in any way
he should think best. The power of removal had nothing
whatever to do with the dispensation from vows. He had
power to dispense from the vows of obedience and poverty,
but the power of dispensing from the third vow, that of
chastity, was reserved to the Pope. He remembered the
Rev. Mr. Matthews calling upon him in the spring of 1862,
relative to Sister Mary Scholastica ; he was, however,
unable just then to do anything in the case, as he was
upon the eve of starting for Rome. In consequence of
a letter received from Sister Mary Scholastica in the
September following, he determined to make a special
visitation to the convent. He did not, however, disclose
his object in doing so. He heard nothing upon that occa-
eion to authorise his taking any further steps. He was
satisfied open all points except that as to Sister Mary
Scholastica. He could come to no conclusion as to her ;
be contented himself with hoping that things might im-
prove with regard to her. In May 1865 he got a letter from
Mrs. Starr calling attention to several faults in Sister Scho-
lastica. Shortly afterwards he went to Ireland for the benefit
of his health, and his intention was to have availed himself
of the opportunity to see Father Matthews to arrange for
the withdrawal of his niece from the convent. His health,
however, was too bad to allow of this intention being ful-
filled. In August 1865 he received a number of letters
from the sisters at Hull. In consequence of those letters he
directed the sisters to make notes of their individual expe-
rience in regard to Sister Scholastica. Accordingly on
August 20th seven depositions were forwarded to him
from the convent. Mrs. Starr's, however, did not come
to him until some days later. He then came to the con-
elusion that he could conscientiously endeavour to bring
about Sister Scholastica's quiet removal from the convent
by her friends, and that if he was unable to attain that,
he must take upon him the duty of removing her. He
accordingly wrote to the Rev. Mr. Sarnia asking
him to come over to England and take his sister home.
He told him her dower would be repaid on application
at the mother house. Father Saurin, however, declined
to mix himself up with the matter, saying he proposed
that the Rev. Mr. Matthews should have the direction of
things. He subsequently received a most extraordinary letter
from the Rev. Mr. Saurin, in which he described an inter-
view he hail had with his darling sister. He spoke of her
terrible sufferings, and of a story which he had to
recount more horrible than anything to be encountered
in the lives of the saints. He wrote, " -Under one opera.
tion, four times repeated, she had felt her body falling to
pieces," but-she was " sustained by au interview with the
Saviour himself. Her crimes were only those of Christ."
Mr. Russell : What did your lordship understand by
that? Did you understand that Sister Scholastica had
been scourged?
Witness : I can't say that the idea occurred to me.
I couldn't understand the letter at all.
Mr. Russell : What kind of a person is this Rev. Mr.
Sarnia ?

Witness : I have never seen him.
The letter went on to say that they were "murdering
both his sister's soul and body in the convent," and that
they were denying her all access to his lordship.
The witness continued : After the receipt of the Rev.
Mr. Saurin's letter he determined upon issuing a commis-
sion. He then entered into a correspondence with
the Rev. Mr. Matthews, and Mr. Matthews came
over to England and saw witness. He laid before him
the depositions that had been received from the convent.
Nothing was kept from him except where reference was
made to third persons. Father Matthews said it was
"all a got-up conspiracy." Witness then intimated that
he might have a commission, and it was arranged that it
should issue. Alter Father Matthews's return to Ireland
he wrote that the family were quite willing to remove
Miss Saurin from the convent if the decision of the
commission should be against her. He added that he
hoped bis lordship would be present at the inquiry, as
he had the fullest confidence in his judgment. I
attributed many of Miss Saurin's faults to kleptomania—
putting the most charitable construction on them.
Especially was this so with regard to the medal stealing.
The next witness was his lordship's secretary, who put
in various documents belonging to his lordship relating to
the case.
The court was again adjourned.

THP POPLAR MURDER.—The man uooper, for
whose apprehension the police hold a warrant, charging him
with wilful murder, continues to elude the vigilance of the
authorities. On Sunday morning a respectable mechanic,
who had been unfortunate enough to lose his left thumb,
and who answered in some other respects the description
of the alleged murderer, 'was arrested in Lambeth. He
was, however, speedily liberated.
At Manchester, John Noon has been charged
with, assaulting John Griffiths. The assault was said to
be in revel:Pe:hiTor the evidence which Griffiths gave against
thifrenians in the matter of the murder of Sergeant Brett.
Griffiths complained that after these trials he was subjected
to such annoyance that he was obliged to give up his shop,
and was now in a very destitute condition. Mr. Fowler
fined the prisoner £5, with two months' imprisonment in
default of payment. The fine was paid, and the magistrate
ordered half of it to be given to Griffiths.
Mr. Thompson, agent of the Digby estates, part
of which is the Island of Arran, has addressed a memorial
to the Lord-Lieutenant with reference to the charges
brought against him regarding the supply of bread to the
inhabitants. He prays for a full inquiry, repeats his state-
ment that the trade in bread has been in no way interfered
with, and declares that the inhabitants were satisfied np to
the 13th of October last, when the people were forbidden
by the Roman Catholic clergy in the chapel to buy from
the local baker because he is a Protestant., These instruc-
lions have, he says, been continued weekly. His Excel-
ency has promised that the matter shall receive the
fullest consideration.

THE REPRESENTATION OF RADNOR BOROUGIT.--:
This election will take place on Wednesday. The
Marquis of II artington is to be opposed by Mr. Phillips,
polio declares his determination to go to the poll. The
Mftrquiff in his address says : " I voted in the last Par.
liapanit in favour of the resolutions for the disestablishment
and clisendowment of the Irish Church which were passed
by the House of Commons. . . . The Government
which is now in power is pledged to carry into effect the
principles asserted in those resolutions ; and though the
task before them is no easy one, they will not shrink from
the responsibility of dealing with the question, with the
object of the establishment of complete religious equality
in Ireland: I have, as you know, the honour of being a
member of the Administration of which Mr. Gladstone
is the head, and it is for you to decide whether you will
ratify the choice which be has made, and will do some.
thing to support the statesman who hasbeen called into
pOwer by thevQige of_ so large a majority ot_the peoplio