The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-30
! STRANGE PRIEST STORY.
HE BREAKS HIS VOW OF cELIBAcY AND MAE
RIEs, BUT DESERTS HIS WIFE AMI, CHILDREN

HE BREAKS HIS VOW OF cELIBAcY AND MAR
RIEs BUT DESERTS HIS WIFE AMI. CHILDREN
ON THE ORDER OF HIS cHURcH-sAD If True
From the Chicago Inter Ocean, Sept 2L1
William A. Ward is a scion OF q wealthy and aristo'
cratic Roman Catholic family residing in Hull York
SHIRE England. The exact extent OF the family circle
not known. but certain Il Is Of the OF Ward
senior priests In the Church of their faith. VIII
lam .ward the younger OF the two brothers rsferre
TO. and tho principal figure In the subject matter II
hand Is q man Of about thirtysix years DID, tall
handsome and OF distinguished mien generally He h
man OF scholarly attainmcnts. being in Greek
Hebrew French Spanish and Italian, besides possess
ing other high attributes He has travelled sxtsn
sivcly in Europe, and spent nine years in the
priesthood in Rome. In tho spring OF the year 1875
he returned from the Continent to Hull England.
where no received an appointment to q church.
There for some time he performed his sacsrdosai
duties but toward the close Of the year he suddenly
disappeared. The event hushed up in the neigh
bornood Those in authority In the church knew
what had happened and that was SUFFICIENT William
A. Ward dropped apparently out OF sight and out Of
mind but there IS little doubt that no ever los
sight Of Tho OF his disappearance was this.
Among tho flock visiting tho church the
young priest was attached 10 was Mary Wreghitt,
young girl OF nineteen years, or slightly under.
Her Father Is John wreghitt an old and distn,
gushcd citizen, still resident in Hull, being clerk OF
tho peace at the town hall Mary Wreghitt was
beautiful young girl, brunette, OF medium height
with an exquisite figure. Her visits to the church
frequent II Is said, her confessions undoubtedly
numerous. Her coniessor was Father william A.
Ward The result can be imagined. The handsome,
travelled priest and the young. connding girl fell in
love, with the other. That It was love, and
mutual love, pretty we'll proven by the sequel to
I'D Ecri n
wreghtr William A. Ward ready to forego his vow
OF ccnbacy risk all that that violation sntaled
Tor love OF her no willing to incur his fathers
anger for love Of hor he was willing to become poor,
10 forfeit home friends, countryall for love OF her,
The couple wont to Liverpool, whore they were mar
ried by Protestant curate, the Rev. Mr.. Washam. Of
Liverpool street, Liverpool, England The TACT that
they were married by Protestant ID suggestive
IL Is likely that they could have obtainod one
of their own faith to unite priest and maiden
After the marriage II Ia believed tho young couple re
NAMED long eaough in England to learn that thcii
parents had discarded them forever.
On tho 30th day oil January, 1876 gentleman OF
this city, whose namo Is forthcoming when needed.
VISITED n house Of business GU West Madison street,
wlro he iouad man Of striking nppeafancs; ra'hGs
had been endcavorng 10 earn money by "socIt.
ins'' tor firm, but had failed. He was tho livpG
embodiment OF poor gentleman. With attachments
OF the highest character he was lacking IN bust
tact He could not dig. TO bog he
was ashamed. Congenial employment he could not
parted with In desperation ho had tried 'soictiug,
surety sure come now. Turning 10 leave tho store.
he raised his hands and, with look Of intense sad
wife dying at home" the citizen standing by-who,
by the way, we Will designate as Mr.. F--caught the
words anu addressing the stranger, inquired into hia
crcu ms, ances. His answers satisfactory, and,
learning OF his abode, Mr.. +. lett, promising 10 call
and him. while later he called, ard on ind
tan heart sickened at the suffering he saw
around. In one room, almost bare OF furniture aud
clio hing ne found his acquaintance Of the morning
bowed and heart broken On what remained OF bed
corner OF tho apartment lay beautiful young
woman, apparently dying As the visitor ore. entered
and survey him briefly. but that was the only
sign Of life she gave BY ner side lay twin
children, brother aud sister, four days old
And there the stranger, helpless, unnerved;
thing JAILED him, and nothing remained but
Jade away before his eyes Mr.. f. was not the man 70
such suffering and do nothing. fastening to his
wiio he briefly explained the situation aud IN a few
hours that cheerlcss room wore different aspect
Necessities and iuxuries wore provided, and In few
weeks careful nursing and other kindly attentions
from willing womanly hands had rescued tho sick
mother and ner babes from tho very jaws OF death.
TINS stranger, this poor gentleman, was no other
was tho whom Mary wreght.. How they had sui
iered for their Lowell WHAT trials They mud gone
through! How want and despair ana even grim IN,
changed now. They had suffered together even az
they haa started out together. In sorrow ano
trIbulalion nothing had como between themi
they had sat down 10 die together; tus az
that was past now. Tho black clouds had
lifted, and tho future looked bright and pleasant
With Wards attachments and the recommendations OF
new friends he was not long IN nnding employ
meut suited him. He went out as private tutor 70
means earned comfortable sulhcicncy with which "a
support his vito and infants. Removing rom the
squalid apartment they were found IN ny Me- r.
to a ounlortablv homo on Jackson street.. beyond
Ashland avenue. they lived happily together and
formed many friends. That they lived happily
AN important point and thor acquaintance testify
with accord to the devotion or The pair to one
smoothly by and then William A. Ward found that hrs
patronage was getting SO large that no te
open an academy place was taken at Nc VA Adams
street, about weeks back, and circulars sent Out
announcing The opening OF the school on October
when suddenly tnere was great change. whS
made that change is only surmse. No one was pres
ent at the interview between SIR. and Mrs. Ward, bu
hi portion eau best be iorth by the remarks Of
Mrs Ward horself 10 a friend.
F,iJay. the TN inst, Mrs. Ward went In groat
trouble to Mrs. f. the wife OF the gentleman who mad
nrst assisted her husband and throw herself on her
knees before cried, 'Oh, Mira f., Will you doser
me IN my troubley" rhe poor woman was comforted
as as possible, and then induced to tell what her
trouble was The story was long ana painful one, ana
during ily recital MR. +. himself arrived Mrs. Ward
commenced by telling the story OF her lite IN Hull Eng
land as related In the opennx o. .n.s a,.Ge.
poverty here, and sudden elevation TO the COM
OF life again, and then stated how the bright lie
before them had been suddenly couded again ny the
sudden determination Of her husband to leave nor.
My husband has gone and loft me forever" she cried
Whom sufficiently Gained to be able 10 talk ratonAy
sho said that Church, here, having found out that
her husband was priest, had ordered him 10 lcAve
| her forthwith, and he had consented He had been
kiud loving to her until no received that orders
and then that very morning he had Told her all, ad
vsed her. also, to place herself under tho 81 dapce o
the Church. then tore her marriage certificate aus
| left her. iha only reason no gave tor tho 40
sertion was that ''tne Church made him de
il.n MrsW ard, not knowing what to do, Mr. aud MA
+. took her and her two infants now beautiful niue
ones twenty moaths od, INTO thoir residence,
! where she repaIned until Thursday the 18Th inst
! DUNG this period Mrs. Ward was IN great dis.
tress oi MUD, as may be imagined she was visiteo
last mentioned told her Two friends that she would
have TO conway, as "the Bishop had said So" Shc
was asked II wanted to aud said no. Acrc Mrs
f. sald:-'If you like Ia stay hcre with me no power
! shall take you and your children away" MIS- WARD
II must 20; the Bishop has said So" II may here b
mentioned that Mrs Ward ID about TO become mohei
l nuuln snu