The daily gazette., 1882-08-24
A CHARGE
- A
SDER.
REV. FATHER DoLEAAD TO Be
SUED FOR DAMAGES.
MUCH TROUBLE OVER AN ORGAN.
A Scandal In st. James Church--was
the Organ Present or Purchases
Who Is TO Blame sA

| A suit for SANDER, for damages placed At
SIC, 600, is about to be brought by Charles
Jordan of this city, against the Reverend
Father William Dollard, pastor of the St,
James Roman Catholic Church, and while
the matter has been kept very quiet 1t has
| occasioned much talk around town In GER
| tain circles. The fact of the matter being
about to come up has just gotten out, and
this in connection with the details Of an
affair which led to the suit, is likely to
occasion something of sensation among
the many friends Of the parties concerned.
WHAT LED TO THE sUIT.
1t seems that some time ago, on or about
Easter Monday, 1880, according to the state
ment OF the parties interested in bringing
the suit, Father Dollard went to Miss Lizzie
Jordan, a young lady, who is member Of
the church, and who at that time was one
OF the choir, asked her to go with him to
Philadelphia and choose an organ, which he
intended to buy for her.
1hls, so the story goes, she refused to do,
saying she did not want such present. ii
was too expensive. After making entreatiee
at later day Father Dollard Went alone
and some time later the organ came. The
young lady is reported to have protested
against receiving such present, but 1t was
put into the house by the Fathers directions
Nothing further happened in the matter
until about three weeks since, when accord
ing to Miss Jordan's statement, a letter
came from Father Dollard asking that he be
paid for the organ Immediately, or he would
denounce her from the pulpit. The Young
LADY refused to either pay or give up the
organ.
Charles Jordan, her brother, and the party
VINO Is about to bring suit wrote a letter TO
the Right Reverend Bishop Becker, alluding
to the case and stating that he had certain
charges to make against Father Dollard. II
stated also that he (Charles Jordan) would
like to meet the Bishop with Father DolIard
at some place, SO the matter could be
explained. The Bishop It seems
sided with Father Dollard and gave him
letter in which it was stated that it was a
debt that should be paid. This letter Father
Dnllard read aloud to the congregation. on
Sunday, August 8, but refrained from men
uoning any names. He said he would give
two hours for the parties to apologize. Not
nearing In that time he gave until the fol-
lowing Sunday. On August 13, the Jordans
still remaining silent Father Dollard de-
nounced the family from the pulpit
at services, calling, according to the report,
Charles Jordan liar, rogue, scoundrel and
blackguard. sister of Charles Jordan,
who is married and was present, said.
'Father Dollard, don't tell lies on the
altar OF God. You have done this because
she wouldn't keep $25 she had made at q.
church fair" A scene of great excitement
followed, in which hard names were called.
and what Father Dollard said about Charles
Jordan will result in a suit of slander.
The Jordan family tell the story about the
gift of the organ and the subsequent pro-
ceedings without reserve. They saw the
present of the organ was pressed upon
Lizzie. AT the fair held in the Institute for
the church some time afterward, 1t Is said.
Father Dollard wanted Lizzie to give him SOS
she had made and say nothing about
1t. Father Dollard says the whole trouble
has come out of the fact that Lizzie left the
the choir and wanted to get back again,
which she could not do. He SAYS he did not
give the young lady the organ, and denies
wanting her to give him $25 she had made
for the church at the fair.
The afiidavits in the case have been drawn
up, and the suit is to be instituted right
away. Mr.. Jordan's counsel Is Levi g.
Bird Esq, and Henry C. Turner, ESQ, rep
resents Father Dollard.
Bishop Becker was called upon by a
GAZETTE reporter to-day, but he would not
talk about the case. He said he preferred
having nothing to do with 1t, and that he
thought Father Dollard was in the right.
good deal is said about Father DolIari
which does not reflect credit upon him as a
pastor, but his friends claim that he has been
and misunderstood.