Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-25

the dishonesty OF priest IN the mlsap'
preparation Of funds sent over from
America for the alienation OF the famine.
stricken people; and We called attention
to the statements as demanding imme.
diate investigation. We hereunto annex
part OF the story and also the result OF
the investigation, which, it will be seen,
fully exhonorates the iaculpated priest
"a great many OF the immigrants
were Irish, and they appeared to be the
most wretched and detected. They, too,
were going West, at least the greater
part OF them, with view to settling on
farms. A number OF them came from
Donegal. Many spoke in discouraging
terms OF the practical benefits OF the re-
lief committee. A man who said he
was from Roxiord, in the county OF
Mayo. spoke enthusiastically OF what
America had done to alleviate the awful
distress OF the poor, but told terrible
story of the misappropriation OF the
charity by local relief managers who, he
said, were using it to make them
selves rich. He was exceedingly
bitter in denouncing priest who, he
said, was using the relief money for the
benefit of himself and relatives. The
reporter asked the man if he were a
Catholic, and he replied that he was,
but he had no patience when he saw
how Father Mike 0'Donnell was acting.
"When he came among us first he
said, "we all had to subscribe to buy
him horse, that he might be able to
carry spiritual consolation to his parish.
toner's, and now he owns stock farm
while the people are starving. Why,
SIR" added this indignant immigrant,
"it was only few days before left
home that this same priest bought
forty bullocks. and put them on a
farm that he purchased for little or
nothing from the agent, who had rank
rented a poor family that lived on it
until they could paw no more, and were
put out. An instance OF this priests s
conduct is shown in how he handled
the seed potatoes that the Land League
sent him. He stored the potatoes
in the chapel, and during the night
gave them away to his own personal
friends and relatives. When the peo-
pie learned that they were all gone they
were very indignant, and raised hula.
balloo about it, but that was all the
good it did them. The Protestant min.
ister, Mr.. Jackson, went to him and
asked why he had desecrated the house
of God by'making il storehouse for his
favortes, but no satisfaction was given; (;
the potatoes had disappeared during the
night and that was all there was OF II"
This man spoke very highly OF MIR.
Jackson, the Protestant pastor OF the
parish, and said that all the Catholic
people loved and revered him. THAT is
so, SIR" said another frieze.coated inn
migrant who stood near by, "and he de-
serves every bit OF it."
Letter from Father Sullivan.
Editor OF the Register.
On the 10th of June last when your
paper published the accompanying arti.
Gle in regard to the famine in Ireland, IT
made very serious charges against local
Relief Committees and by name against
one Rev. Michael O'Donnell, OF Fox
ford. In card, which your paper kind.
ly inserted, asked the public to sus-
pend judgment until Rev. O'Donnelrs
Bishop could be heard from. Simultan-
eodsly with my writing and sending
copy of the REGISTER, Very Rev. II. +.
Park, V. e.. Administrator OF the Dlo.
cese of Wheeling also wrote. The an
swer came to him. | respectfully ask
that your article OF June 10, 1880, be
.S,,Il,.hal and alnnn rifh ~ tho
answer OF the Most Rev. +. J. MacCor-
mack, Bishop Of Achoury. 1t will show
what credence is to be given to the inn
migrants story, and 90 far to show also
that gross injustice may be very easily
done by giving too ready an ear to
chronic fault.fnders, il not stupid calum-
inators.
JoHN T. SULLIVAN, V. e.,
Rector OF the Cathedral.
Letter from Bishop MacCormack
BALLYHADEREM, IRELAND,
July IL, 1880. !
VERY Rev. DEAR SIR-Your esteem.
ed letter reached here during a prolong-
ed absence from home. On my return
lost no time IN communicating with
the Rev. Mr.. O'Donnell, Of Foxford, in
reference to the damaging allegations
that have appeared in the New York
Times. Submitted the following queries,
which seem to cover the whole ground
OF charges:
!. Have you used any OF the "Relief
money" for the benefit OF yourself or OF
your relatives?
9. Do YOU bold stock farm? II not,
what extent OF land is in your posses
sion?
3. Have YOU within the last twelve
months purchased forty buliocks TO he
fed on farm held by you?
4. Was any land you hold recently IN
the possession OF a rack-rented family,
who were compelled to give 1t up by
their landlord or his agent?
s. Have YOU stored the potatoes sent
by the Land League in any OF your
chapels?
6. Have any OF the potatoes sent by
the Land League been taken, with
your permission or connivance,
from the place in which they were stored
by YOUR own friends or relatives?
Z. Was any representation made to
YOU by the Rev. Mr.. Jackson, or anv
other Protestant minister, regarding the
alleged desecration Of the house OF God
To the above queries the Rev. Michael
O'Donnell replied:
l. ! have not used any OF the relief
money for my own benefit or that oi my
relatives. >,
9. hold no stock farm; but do hold
six and a half acres OF land, which the
Bishop of the Diocese procured for the
use Of my Glebe house.
3. have not purchased forty bullock'
within the last twelve months. ! never
purchased bullock in all my life time
4. The six and one-half acres OF land
I hold were never in the possession o!
rank.rented family, nor was any such
family, or any other, evicted from thi'
land, as far as know.
5. / did store the Land League pota
toes in the old chapel, which has moi
been used for any religious purpost
since the opening OF my new church las
wear. did 50 because hsd no othel
store and for their greater security.
8. None Of these potatoes were taker
away by my friends or relatives; the,
were distributed by the committee Il
the most distressed families OF the parish