Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-14
BISHOP PURCELL's DEFICITS.
D., The Reverend Prelate Tells the story Oh
His Embarrassments on the witness
Stand


The Reverend Prelate Tells the Story OF
His Embarrassments on the Witness
Stand.
CINcIyNATI, May lS.-Ever since the
announcement of the enormous deficit
in the accounts OF Archbishop Purcell,
of this diocese, there has been a very
general desire to hear him give an ac'
count OF his stewardship in the courts.
The trial of suit for the sale OF the
church property furnished the long
awaited opportunity. His examination,
which extended over several days, was
concluded on Tuesday evening, In his
examination he testified that when he
came here and purchased real estate and
commenced the erection OF buildings he
had no income or means, save the con-
tributions of the charitable, and that IN
the course Oi time, owing TO the failure
of banks, many people not having con-
fidence in banks, brought their money
10 him, expecting him 10 find
safe investment for them, and from
which they could realize interest; that
in the course of time the affairs oi hls
diocese, which at that time covered the
whole State of Chic, required so much
of his time and attention that he con-
stituted his brother Edward his tinan-
cial agent and manager, and that Tor
forty years Edward has had the almost
exclusive control of his financial affairs;
that in the beginning moneys deposited
Sere used largely in the purchase OF
real estate and the erection OF church
buildings, asylums, educational institu-
tions, and that thus the be-
ginning OF the indebtedness was
ior diocesan institutions. Though
the indebtedness had, unknown TO
him, and he might safely say, TO his
brother likewise, grown beyond all pro-
PORTIONS. still he felt that IN the origin
il was a diocesan Indebtedness, and mat
so fan as tho money had been used lur
those purposes, the diocese and the dlo.
cesar property was liable. lie claimed
10 have the exclusive control under the
statutes Of the diocese and the DEGREES
oi the Councils of all church and ecCle-
siastical property, subject only 10 the
right of appeal To Rome 10y a congrega-
ton for any misuse of the property in
trusted to his care. He said that though
the contributions OF many OF the faith
iul had been extremely liberal and gen
erous, still the Cathedral and Seminary
were built and paid for largely out OF
moneys that had been deposited with
his brother.
A Special Claim.
The Archbishop was examined very
closely concerning the claim OF j. ID.
Hendricks, amounting Ia about $4,000,
i'm whose pass book Father Edward Pur-
cell had written, "For this claim the
diocese is liable" Underneath the Arch
bishop, in his handwriting, had said,
The above account or statement Is cor
rect" signing his own name as Arch
bishop. An effort was made by coun-
sci for Mr. Hendricks to show that a
special liability was thus created in Ia
vor of Hendricks, but, upon cross
examination by counsel for the assignee,
the Archbishop testified that he did not
intend 10y that statement TO give MIR.
Hendricks any greater security or to
charge the diocese In any greater ex-
tent Tor the payment OF that debt than
anv other debt that Father Edward had
contracted; that the diocese was as much
liable to all the other creditors
who had not by their importu-
nifty obl,I.,u sura special writings
as Mr.. Hendricks 1t also appeared
in testimony that when the run upon
Father Purcell was at its height, many
OF the creditors wanted an acknowledg-
ment from the Archbishop that he was
responsible Tor the debts contracted 10y
Father Edward. To satisfy these cred
itors, Father Edwarl had printed notes
which read, "The Archbishop OF Gin
Cinnatl promises to pay - Some
few Of these notes were issued, the Arch
bislop said, without his knowledge, but
10y his duly authorized agent, his broth
er. When asked whether the Diocese
was responsible for the payment OF such
notes he answered that 1t was. Upon
further examination by the attorneys OF
the assignee, he said that he did not in
tend 10 say that the Diocese was any
more or less responsible for the payment
OF these notes than any other notes or
promises To pay that his brother bad
issued. In most matters relating TO the
purchase and building oi churches, the
Archbishop said he would have TO refer
the attorneys 10 his brother for iniorma-
ton, a. he had left these things exclu-
slyely 10 him.
Willing to Resign Everything
When questioned as to what property
he intended 10 convey by the assign
ments, he answered that he desired 10
convey everything, To bankrupt himself,
Ia leave himself nothing. TO give every
thing he had, even 10 the last copper, TO
the creditors.
When questioned as To the amount OF
money received from abroad, II VAS at
tempted 10 be- shown that over SIS 900
Was sent from the Society Ot II. Leopold,
in Munich. lie answered that II such a
sun was sent to this piOCcse, Il was be-
fore his time; that when be cauIe here
there was 500 due Tor groceries, which
he paid. lie admitted that considerable
sums came from Munich. Brussels,
Antwerp and Pans, but a.
10 the amounts be had
no recollection, but thought it Was not
AZ large IS some people would say. He
was questioned as 10 the conveyance by
him in years past of difieren, pieces Of
property to religious orders, and as 10
whether he consulted the congregaiions
Nho had built the churches 80 convey
Ell. In answer be said that he had not,
and that he didn't thihk u Necessary
that he should, as by virtue oil his once
he had full power 10 make such convey
ances. He said that there were mum
ber OF churches thai his brother had,
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