The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-20
The Ministerial Seduction Case at Spring
field, Mass.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION OF MR.. DoHERTY.
Prom the Sprin yield Republican, June Ill


4 The Ministerial Seduction Case at Spring
field, Mass.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION OF MR.. DoHERTY.
Prom the Sprin yield Republican, June IT,
i Runners rife Saturday evening, that there
would be disturbance at the Catholic Church Sun
day, If the Rev Mr. Doherty should attempt to ofoiste
usual considerable number OF the Irish population
appear to be ncensed against him account Of the de-
velopements mt his trial for seduction and they
held meetings Friday and Saturday evenings to
cert measures for driving him away from the parish e
undertook to dperse the Saturday evening meeting but
WAS greeted with insults, and soon left On Sunday
\ morning. there considerable crowd about the
church which not opened till his arrival when
Of the females and portion of the males who had ga
thered in the street went and the usual services
conducted by Mr. Doherty in quiet number Of con-
stables in attendance to suppress any disturbance
that might happen but their active services were
natey not needed The parties opposed to the clergyman
appear to have listened to better counsel and
least postponed their contemplated violent
Before entering the main services Of the morning
hour, Mr. Doherty made speech to the congregation
upon the recent proceeding lie attributed the suits
agains him TO those enemies who had been busy in per-
scouting him almost ever since he came here, and de-
nounced them In good terms enemies Of the church
lie declared himself innocent before God Of the charges
made against him As to that first tredthe indictment
for assaul-he remarked that upright Judge, and
true and impartial Jury Of his fellow citizens had pro-
nounced him stamped the pro-
ecutor unworthy of belief The other suit after being
commenced settled at the instance Of the opposite
party and by him the aud
public peacefor the good Of the church 70 which he
devoted, ana Iae Community III which heved The over
tpIes for the settlement not made by him but him
listen TO plan for settme lie denounced false
various reports that he had confessed himself guilty
and the father Of the child that the girl has had and
said that he able to read to his the
terms Of the settlement which would have been published
before In the newspapers; but that he only obtained
them Saturday evenirg from the lawyers, who had
retained the custody Of the papers for three days FROM
the settlement Of the lie then read legal docu-
ment, signed by Edward and Mary Ann Monaghan and
fettng forth that in consideration dollar paid to
them by Mr. Doherty, they withdrew all suits against
him The document was witnessed by the lawyers in
In anHsh a ItVr "a
in the congregation
One reason that prevailed with him in consenting to
settle the that he had confidence IN the
Jury No Jury in New England he said. could BE- ex-
pected to do justice Catholic Clergy except
under forced circumstances lie had made no con
cessions-he settlement perfectly honorable him
lie had said that he knew nothing sainst the chastity
Of the girl and Of his personal knowledge he did kno~
nothing lie had consented to settle only for the
Of peace Had the suit gone it would have been
prolonged for years-sx eight and ten years-and KEEP.
the community excitement all the time; sud va, to
avoid this that he had taken the course he had His
coure had received the full appreciation Of the bishop
Of several cergymen who we're acquaiLte with the
history Of the matter and also Of the respectable
and intelligent OF his congregation.
lie concluded oy saying that he entirely indifferent
A. to what Others think Let pray tor peace for
the removal Of bitterness from from the
gregation, and from the community that may be
one In mind and heart, g are in faith.
10 smissing the congregation, he further remarked
TO them not to attention TO the ISLANDERS which
his enemies and the enemies OF his church should
" pass them 10y 10 silence not TO get angry but to suf
fer aud bear ali for the sake of the church Of Christ
to whom and to whose followers be compared himself Il
gwen 10 all disciples Of Christ suffer and h
not ashamed afraid 70 bear hi share Of the burdens
These are the substance ~ his remarks though not
Away in the which he uttered them Ia every
essential particular they correctly represent what
said
We presumc the statement of the reverend defendant
will call out authorized and detailed account the
terms " settlement This will fully substantste the
tce We have heretofore made o. them. Nothing be
accomplished In the long by attempting to impose
upon ignorance and supersttious to the
facts In this Nor sill anything b. gained by insult
The peculiar circumstances Of the settlement q the
suits have made proper for the press to refrain
from passing any Judgment in the premises but In the
such Misrepresentation sbound la the above
statement u may well BE- question how far this
propriey should extend Innocence needs stronger
shsId than truth IIc who ia defending himself passes
believe him guilty.
MEETING or TUE CATHOLIC LAtrY = TuE con-
PROMISE.
fFsom the Srrir thed Post, June IL
Early yesterday handbs were posted about
the streets, calling public meeting q the Catho-
lies Of this town, at FOots Hall,t0 rcpudiste the
statements made by Rev Mr.. Dohery 70 his con
gregaton on the Sabbath, and to appoint a delegi.
ton 70 wait upon the Bishop " tn Diocess, at
Boston. aud request the removal of Mr.. Doherty
from his pastoral relation t. the church in this
town.
Agrctably 70 this call there was large assem-
blage at the appointed meeting when cig6t o'clock
bad arrived, IN which both sexes were included.
MIR Murphy, the chairman of the meeting, called
the house a. 5F..- ~ih few appropriate in,-odlc-
tory remarks, when, upon motion, -: llavDn,
John Madden, John Mcintyre, and iohn O'Con-
nell we're appointed "a hall wardens, their day
being 10 collect money to defray the expenses
Of the evening, and the expense Of sending ielc-
cation to Boston, u wait upon the right reverend
bishop Ut the diocess.
Mr. Winchester by request ofthe chairman, read
a statement drawn up by Henry Morris, Esq
plaintiff counsel in the suit ot Monaghan w.. DO
herty which was substantially the same that APP
pears in our columns to-day. The following resO-
iutions were then offered for a10p tion.-
Whereas, Purity ia heart and life should be
Characteristic Of al ia the Church, and especially
in its ministry
And whereas. Serious charges, affecting the
character of Rev. j. j Doherty, passor Of the
Catholic Church In this town, have been brought
against him, and which, by the investigation had,
We believe T. be true.
And whereas The statements in regard 10 the
change and the facts relating thereto, made by the
Rev Mr. Dohcrty TO the Church yesterday, were,
in our opinion, grossly aud entirely false, there
fore,
Resolved, That We rspuaiatc and reject them ~
toto
Resolved, That We have entire confidence in the
Rev Bishop a this dj0ccss, aud that he will not
fail TO oxpci the Rev Mr. Doherty FROM his pastoral
otnce, a. unfit for that sacred station, a. least
remove him frOm this ra .ish
Resolved, Inat this meeting send delegation
70 ostnn a. lay tie incts before the Disaop Of tnis
d4JCNss.
A.. -.