The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-20

dent, which occurred Friday night
DEATH OF FATHER NEALIs.-It becomes
our painful duty, this morning, 10 chronicle
the death Of one OF our mos, exemplary
Pricsts-the Rev. JoHN THoNAs MEALS,
who, after eight yeArs service in the minis
try, came 10 his death very suddenly yes
lerday morning, in The very flower Of his
manhood, by accidentally falling from the
window of his bedroom into the yard be-
low. On Friday night we had q conserva-
ton with Father Neslis on the subject Of
his taking charge Of ST. Johns Church, in
Edgeheld, where it was his intentionto eel
citrate Mass at 10 o'clock on Sunday morn
ing. After we left him he was in company
with Rev. Mr.. Kelly and Rev. Mr.. Brown
until sitter nine o'clock, when he retired to
his room, and was heard moving about far
in the night; but nothing was thought OF
,be circumstance. Some time during the
night Father Kelly heard noise Of some
thing falling in the yard, but hearing moth
ing more unusual, he again fell asleep At
o'clock in the morning the body Of Father
Eealis was found IN the yard, his face buried
I'm his blood, his head towards the house,
and his feet apparently just as they had fall
len-dealh doubtless being instantaneous
The coroner, P. B. Coleman, Esq, was
Immediately notified, and he, with his ac-
cus.gmed aIacrity, summoned jury, be-
fore whom an Inquest was held upon the
body at nine o'clock. After surveying the
body, and the place on which he fell, the
iurv examined the room from which he had
fallen. Several letters were found upon
the table, which Father Meals had written
the night previous, al in his accustomed
plain and steady hand, and betraying not
the slightest indication Of un3oundness OF
mind or disease Of the body. The window
is low one, and. was raised perhaps two
feet, the bed had not been disturbed, ex-
eept that the pillows had been removed,
and placed upon the floor. Returning to
the body, his-watch was taken from his
pocket, when it was found that it had
stopped, it had been wound up on Friday
night, and stopped at twenty-five minutes
after one o'clock, beyond doubt the precise
time Of Father Meals, falling from the
window. The following is copy Of the
finding:
An Inouisition holden at the Cathedral
Of Nashville, in the county Of Davidson,
State ofTonnessee, on the 18th day Of March,
1864, before p E. Coleman, Coroner Of said
county, upon the body Of John Thomas
Ncalis, aged about thirty -four years, there
living dead, BY the Jurors whose names are
1 hereunto subscribed, who, upon their oaths,
! do say, That the said John Thomas Nealis,
! came TO his death on the morning Of the
l9th Of March, 1864, between the hours OF
one and two o'clock, by accidentally falling
! from the window Of the dwelling attached
( 10 the Cathedral on summer-street, said fall
/ causing his death instaEtanc0usly, as is be-
/ lieved by the Jury. Ia testimony whcreofwe
have hereunto set our hands, the day and
( date above. 7. F. JoxEs,
J. II. CURRY,
Y. V. BRoWS,
ANDEEw \. 0'KAyE,
Is. THAcHGH, Jury.
va. SUuOEs,
J. =. KELLY,
z. B. Coleman, Coroner.
The deceased was born, raised and edu-
! Gated il New York city, previous to his
commencing his studies for the priesthood,
which were pursued, We believe, in Ohio.
About eight years ago he was ordained at
/ St. Joseph's, Somerset, Perry county, Ohio,
by the Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell, and
remained as teacher and project in ST.
Joseph's College for year or more. He
/ then went TO Memphis, where he remained
as Assistant Pastor of the Church Of 81.
Peter 81 Paul for two or three years. From
Memphis Father Nealis went TO Chstta-
nooga about the latter part Of 1860 or the
beginning Of 1861, where ne remained until
he dispersion Of his flock and the destruc-
ZION Of his church, by the retreat from Chat
tauooga and the occupation Of that place by
the.Fcdorals Ho then came 70 Nashville,
and had ne lived, would probably have
been permanently located at Edgefeld.
But Almighty God has ordained otherwise;
he is taken from us in the prime Of life, and
from field where the laborers are few;
/ but it H. for some wise purpose. Let each
( one apply the warning 10 himself, and in
quire, Am ready to go when called p
am prepared for the terrible Judgment"
May God have mercy upon tho soul Of
| Father Neals.