The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-21


end gentleman's letter to the court:
On the evening when, it is said, man of
color named Jim Macklin was hanged III or
near Frankfort, during the past winter by
mob, OrriOtou sassemblage OF persons,
was sent for and appealed to lay John l..
Scott, commemorative Attorney for that
district. to use NV influence to disperse the |
mob, which he then informed me was gath
ering, and would perhaps violate the law:
=, / am q Catholic priest, and was then, anu
yet am, temporarily stationed Mt Frankfort.
1 had been ut Frankfort only since the
month OF May, preceding the courts hereln
spoken Of and had. consequently, limited
acquaintance in that community. L am
native of Holland had been in this country
only about eight years, and neither speak
the English language tluently or speak 1t
perfectly. i have not been naturalized; yet
ment of my adoption and expected to make
it my home for life. With a sincere desire
to render any and all aid in my power to
prevent violation OF law and especially to
use whatever Of influence had, or might
he supposed to have, in favor of the peace
and good order Of society, and to prevent
violence, went, as requested, and exerted
all my humble, but, as the sequel proved,
too inefficient power in trying to prevent
the breaking of the county Jail, or the sum-
mary and unlawful execution OF the negro.
understood the appeal to be made to
priest, and because it was supposed the mob
was in great part Composed of Irish CathO-
lies. 1t was on this ground, and for this
reason, that hoped might exert an in
tiuence. l.: was as il priest went in. i am
fully persuaded it was ON account OF my
priestly office, and on that account only,
that | was permitted to go into that excited
crowd, Il large portion of whom We're to me
personally unknown, and of different ma
tionality from myself, whilst others better
fflDn
myself dared not attempt to go amongst
them.
When had us verify believe, saved
the life OF the iailer. anll/was leaving in
despair of welding tffthcr influence, the
Mayor of Frankfort appealed to me to re-
turn to the JAIL, and request the crowd to
hear him speak to them. This did, being
permitted to pass in. a~ verify believe,
only on account OF my office of priest
Now | am asked to inform the grand jury
of the names OF the persons whom | saw Ill
that maddened and Infatuated assemblage,
to whom | went solely because of my
priestly office, and amongst whom ! was
permitted to go and to demonstrate because
of my office, and without which could not
have gone i'll amongst them.
1t was because of my Office i was re-
uuested to go by the civil authorities. Ii
was in niy character of priest that l went
ill.,, 1t was on account of my clerical posi-
ton that was enabled to go i'll and come
out unmolested
Now the civil authorities ask me to state
whom there saw, as evidence against then
for their punishment.
1t seems to me on my conscience that fo
me to depose on the subject would be 1
prostitution Of my Office and disgrace t.
my character as Il priest; that wouit
stand in the attitude of having taken adj
vantage of my priestly Office at the instance
ot the civil authorities to act the part of !;
public informer: that it would be Il breac!
of implied faith and confidence, and tina
the probable good from statement OF al
the facts within my knowledge would b
more than counter-halanced 10y the evils t
I've wrought by the apparent betrayal c
those who trusted in me as 4 priest, and no
otherwise.
do not claim to put this case strictly G
technically on the ground of n sacrament;
confession hut the reasons, though not $
strong or conclusive as that case, difft
from it only i'll degree. The principle
the same. The trust, mit were trust; til
forbcarance, if it were forbearance, was
my sacred Office, and not tony humble an
comparatively unknown self. Can | affor
to testify If am | compelled to do 81
could another OF my office dare to thrus
himself into such Il position? Would he h
permitted, under like circumstances, I
raise his voice? Is it right, is it fair for IL
civil authorities thus To and abuse II
Officer With all respect, bowling with 4
due reverence to the laws of my adoptt
country, am bound in my conscience as
man and as an othce-bcarer, as | belize
and hone in the Church of Christ, to answ
all these questions in the negative.
do not refuse to answer i'll any spirit
contempt AS God is my judge, desire
respect and obey the temporal laws of Il
country have voluntarily chosen for II
home on earth. ! act not hastily nut up'
my profound and prayerful search of n
own heart. | believe in all truth thai
ought to be excused from testifylng as
the facts thus obtained. | do not knc
that my testimony would produce the co
yiction of any one man accused or. not
.used. did not see the execution of I
colored man, nor did see him in the ia