The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-24
The Suit Against the Bishop OF Rhode
Island-The Other Side of the Story.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

PROVIDENCE, Oct. %, 1852
In the HrRSIp of yesterday you make re
marks not very complimentary TO the Catholic Bishop Of
Rhode Island, who is represented guilty Of attempt
TO swndle poor Of So 900. Your usual
candor will extend to the privilege of correcting the
statement on which that grave charge rests.
The suit alluded to brought by Mrs. Hannerty--
against the Bishop of this doccss but against William
ORey brother and administrator to the will Of the late
Bishop.
The present Bishop never told Mrs. Haunerty that the
funds of the church exhausted but that he would
her claim afterwards; did Mrs. II. testify
The facts Of the case brought out during the trial.
were simply Bishop OReilly lost, January,
1885, in the i'll faed Pacific. As his death was
known Mrs. Hannerty began TO speak Of her having
loaned money to him. At first the sum claimed by her
only $500 but it grow to 81 O0O then 500
and finally to $1,000, for which she sued the admins
TRAITOR Her contradictory statements threw doubts
the claim, which were increased by the well known
fact that she had always expressed the most bitter feelings
towards Bishop ORey, and such straitened cir
that her small property had been constantly
under mortgage for fourteen years for sums varying
Her the trial hcr son. her daughter and
Mrs j., formerly inmate Of Mrs. Hannerty's house
Each OF them fell into self contradictions whilst the
witness stand which went far to sustain the position Of
the defence, viz that the whole suit the result Of
Tie psns Claimed % that the 600 had BEEN paid to
Bishop OReilly, in the Office Of the late General Car
penter, the 10th Of May, lS53thc General having
drawn up the note which she has been lost The
hour of the transaction fixed between twelve
O'Clock. The defence showed that that day Bishop
OReiliy engaged. in his cathedral from nine till
after twelve o'clock in singing mass preaching and
sisting at Te Deum at which than 900 persons
present On tho other hand, Hon. Mr.. Thurston,
partner Of the late General Carpenter showed from the
Office books that he (Thurston) In the Office during
that morning. and swore that no such transaction oc
CURED there.
second count fixed the paynent on the morning Of
May IL. In reply, it proved that that morning
the residence Of the late Rev. j. Stokes that be
showed that General Carpenter spent that morning in the
thus u complete alib established.
Many other facts adduced In test nony, such as
the absence OF all entries Of principal interest books
Kept with great care, the inloesibty OF tracing the
money said 70 be lOaned, the fact that the Bishop
did not need money having large balance TO his credit
IN bank, and many other facts
The charge Of Chief Justice Ames strongly favor
of the defence. The jury however, dsagreed-two be-
ing in favor Of the plaintiff and ten for the defendant
Another trial will probably take place. As neither
judge. jury nor lawyers are Catholic hardly be
SUPP osed that they have any preudces against the Han
Der'y family who became Protesants, Of them two
come nine years ago. IT. however, they not willing
o abide by the verdict Of jury will be easy to pub
sh the whole proceedings in the case TO which the de-
endanE will not object, although they do complain Of
ox parto statements and garbled extracts. JUSTICE