The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-02-25
CRIMINAL VARIETIES.
CIVILIZED Here and There from the Columns OF
the Daily Press,
Another Naughty Parson.


pr,s time il is the Rev. Michael Finity, pas
N, of the Methodist church at Mokena, III
Nc is n bachelor, about As years of age, ano
some five years ago, having been introduced
10 Miss May Sheridan, singer IN the choir OF
,se Wabash Avenue church. became enamOred
of her He avaied himself OF every oppoTtu
,itv afterwards to force himself into her com
eany. though she never encouraged him. she
boarded with a widow, Mrs. Grow, at 24O
North CLARK St, where he frequently called 10
SEQ her. but she never permitted herself 10 oe
alone with him Two weeks ago he sent her
q note that he would call and see her last wed
nesday. She replied that she would not be al
home: whcreupOn he took time by the fore.
lock and called upon her upon Monday The
res, OF the story is told by the Times reporter
at was washing day." that lady explained,
land had hung some things up to dry In MISS
Sberidan's room The articles hanging from
,be line almost concealed the bed. lbe young
lady's apartment opens into the parior, al the
oppositc end OF which Is door Leading mo
me kitchen ! went into the kitchen, leaving
Miss Sheridan and her visitor alone. am tolu
that he got up and sat down on the sofa oesioe
her gradually edging nearer and nearer. She
did not know what To make of his conduct
and. a. he was a minister of the gospel, OF
course she never suspected anything wrong.
Feelng embarrassed, however, and noticing
that he looked nervous and talked lnCohCrent-
w. she went into her BEDROOM on the pre-
tense of getting her album which she wished
to show him. As she was STOPPING over the
trunk she heard noise behind her, and look
jng up, saw Mr.. FInity standing there, with
the door shut. Her first impulse was to scream,
but as she started up he caught her in his
arms. pressed hand over her mouth, and
pushed her upon the bed"
Mrs Grow went on to say that Mr.. Finity
had closed the door leading into the kitchen
before committing the assault, tor she herself
was unconscious OF what was gong on. a lit
tlo girl who was playing in the hall ran INTO
The kitchen, and, pulling at Mrs Grows skirts,
said Miss May is crying in her room.
Something is the matter" The landlady
thought nothing Of it for a moment, but, as
the child persisted, she dropped her work and
rushed through the parlor to Miss Sheridans
apartment When she opened the door she
saw nothing. for the line of clothes obscured
her view Pushing the wet clothes aside, she
was horrlted to see the visitor holding Miss
sheridan down, and actually smothering the
girl by means of pillow. If the lady's state
ment Is correct, it was a sort of vivid rehearsal
Of the bthcllo.Dcsdcmona act, with the gentle
minister playing the part of the swarthy Moor.
pho lady dragged the Rev. Mr., Finity from
his victim, at the same time crying: "lou
seoundreI, leave my house," Miss Sheridan,
gasplug for breath with her neck and mouth
purple from strangulatlon, made an effort to
strike him, but fell back exhausted. The min.
listers face was bleeding from scratch inilict-
ed by the girls nails, and the first thing he
saw was Mrs Grow reaching for the water
pitcher TO smash over his sacerdotal head.
Grabbing his hat, he bolted ont OF the room,
and scampered down two flights of stairs into
she street. DR.. Wright a neighboring physi.
Clan, wa, called in, and his remark, on exam.
ming the gIrl, was: 1.-TWO minutes more would
have made her "A corpse"
The Rev" gentleman was subsequently ar
rested aDd at last accounts was pin'ng IN the
lock w at the Chicago Avenue station