American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-12-20

the family OF Dr.. HRmlin. had been entie-
ed from her home and secrsted from her
friends, by the consent. If hot by the au-
lhoritys OF certain Roman Catholic priests
of this city; and that the custody OF the
girl was only obtained through the energy
and frmuess Of DR.. Hamlin. We this
morning al a conversation with the girl,
and End that the case possesses more Thar
usual interest, and We lay the whole facts
before the public. that they may judge
rightfully of the matter, and sec what
means Jesnitism will resort to, to carry
ont its ends.
The girl is about IL years of age, Of an
amiable disposition and industrious habits
She was met by the lady Of DR.. Hamlin.
while on ayisit to her relatives in the EasI
last summer, who was so pleasant with
her general conduct, and sympathising
with her in her unfortunate condition
brought her home with the intention o.
properly raising and educating her. The
girl had been in the city just seven weeks
when she was induced To desert her benev.
client protector and protectress. Her state
ment. made candidly and without hesita.
ton to US this morning, is in substance al
follows:
In the family Of Dr.. Hamliu was an II.
ish Catholic servant girl, named Sarah
Hallcren. AS soon as she became &C.
quainted with Maria. she inquired Of hen
as to her religious faith, and finding thit
she wa a Protestant, took every opporlu'
nifty TO convince her that it would be better
for her to be a Catholic. Getting the girl
to promise secrecy, she told her. that it
she would leave the Doctor. and go and
live with the Sisters. she would be in a
much better condition-that the Sisters
would clOthe her like a lady, give her the
best to eat, DC.
This Irish girl was often visited by an
other. named Mary Burke, who united
with her in the effort to per.
suado Maria TO go and live with the Sis.
tiers. The girl dazzled by the description
of Catholic life given her time and again by
these two Irish domestics. finally consent.
cd to go and be baptized at the Jesuit
church on Sycamore street. provided the
act was kept secret from Mr.. and Mrs.
Hamlin, to whom she had become very
much attached, and who. she was afraid
would be offended ifthey knew it,
TO prevent suspicion, Mary Burke was
to call for her on Sunday afternoon, and
accompany her 10 the priest. She called
promptly. utthat afternoon Maria could
not go.
The next Sunday morning Maria wen
with the two Irish girls to The church, bur
the Priest was not ready to baptize her
and the ceremony was deferred ona week.
The following Sabbath morning she wa,
prepared for baptism at the house Of DR.
Hamlin, by these two girls. and then SEN
to her protectress with u lie ia her mouth,
viz: that she was going to attend service a
the Rev. DR.. Fishers church. She LEFT
the house by herself, but was oyertaken By
the other girls and conducted to the Jes.
nit church. There she was bap,ised, Ma
ny Burke. and her brother, "standing up
with her, and the ceremony being witnes.
sed by Sarah Halleren and others. She
was pleased with the ceremony.
After she was baptiSed. she expressed /,
wish to return to Dr.. Hamlin's. Tho prizes
told her she must not do that, as the iami.
ly would give her no peace and would, il
all probability. send her TO the house o.
Refuge. This frightened her somewhat,
and she consented TO DO rs they bid her;
as Mrs. MCGOWAN, who was present, dc,
clsred that the "darlint" should rot 90 tc
the "herelics." and that she would take
care Of her until arrangements could be
made to take her out to the Sisters.
This woman accordingly took her TO hel
house, situated in the lower part Of Elm
street, where she stopped all night. Mrs
Nc Gowan, is the mother.in-taw of Watch,
man Cassidoy, who wds present and kneu
whGt cas going on! He was angry at Mrs
MCGOWAN for bringing the girl to tn,
house, but told her tho girl) that he was
glad she was going to such a nice place as
the sisters!
On Monday morning Mrs McGowar
took the girl TO Father Purcell" who
gave them a permit to tho Cummingsvillt
institution to the Sisters. They returned
to the house, where an omnibus called fol-
them, into which the girl was helped by
Waterman Cassiday. From there they
went TO Cummingsville, where the cir
was placed in charge of''Sister Antony
Here we will stop in the girls narrative
to state a few other facts. DR.. Hamlin's
servant was questioned IN regard to tho
girls absence, and she ayerred most sol.
EMMY that she had not seer her since she
dressed that morning. A notice of the
disappearance of the girl, with descrip
ton Of her dress, ect,, was read to the pc.
lice shortly after it occurred yet this watcl
man reirained from giving the informa.
ton he possessed.
Maria stated that she was kindly treated
by Sister Antony" who learnt her pray
ers, and told her that she thought that By
Christmas she would he preparcd to attent
confession. After that they would try tC
get her ono good place to olive out
with a Catholic family, which last state.
ment dissipated all the golden anticipation
the girl had formed. and which she cxpec
tee to derive from her beings Catholic.
After Maria had been al CumminCsyiil,
some days. Sister Antony told her that tn,
newspapers were making q fuss about he,
disappearance, and as lha priest who bap
TIED her might get into trouble, she though
it best for her to be brought TO the city.
She was accordingly disguised aud bro
to the city by one Of sisters, and taken I,
tho establishment on the corner Of Third a
Plum, where she was kept oil night. TIL
next morning she was conducted by tn,
Sister to the priest, and a consultation wa