The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-10-05
Cruel Hoax.
HOW SOME wICKEDLY-DIsPOsED PERSON An
NOYED FATHER MCOLGAN, TIE VENERABLE
vICAR-GENERAL, IN BALTIMORE.

HOW SOME WICKEDLY-DlSPOSED PERSON An
NOYED FATHER MCOLGAN, TIE VENERABLE
vICAR-GENERAL, IN BALTIMORE.
Monday afternoon a young girl, dressed
in a shabby calico dress and wearing BON
net which seemed rather the worse for
wear. appeared at the American District
TELEGRAPH window in the Western Union
office. corner of Calvert and Baltimore
streets, and requested that n note be sent to
Rev. Father T.. McColgan, yicar-general, on
UollinS street. About G:30 the same girl,
or one who answered TO her description,
went hurriedly into the Mutual District
telegraph Office, on West Fayette street,
between Gay and Holiday. She seemed
much excited, and requested that the note
which she handed the clerk be sent at
once. The young man took the envelope,
but the name was written so badly that he
could not make it out, and requested
the girl to tell him what ii was. She re-
piled: Rev. Father McCOlgan. the CathO-
lie vicar general, and his residence was the
pastoral home, on HolinS street. The girl
paid for the messenger, and was about
| leaving. for she seemed in such 4 hurry,
when the clerk asked her address, where
an answer could be sent. She replied,
"Oh. never mind; if there is IN answer
he will know where TO send it," and she
| left, going down the street towards Gay.
The notes were forwarded, and each car
ried with it an effect which proves that
mischief of the Gentleman Joe kind was
intended by the sender. The first note
was opened by the Vicar-General, and
announced that his presence was re-
quired Immediately at Point Breeze. Mr..
Harry MCGOWAN, the proprietor, it said,
had been fatally shot by politician named
Buchheimer, and was dying. MI. Nc
Gowan wished to see him to partake of the
sacrament and will some OF his property to
the Church. 1t was signed with the name
OF John Quinn, bit was written in Il
! feminine hand. The Father, feeling that
his presence was needed at once, took a
carnage and drove to Point Breeze, a dis
lance OF six miles from the city. On ar
irving he found Mr.. MCGOWAN well and
greatly surprised to see the reverend gen.
tleman. After explaining matters the Vicar
General returned home, paid s. for hack
hire, and was about to retire when
the second note was handed him.
The contents were more alarming
than the first 1t was signed with the
name Of l.. VI. Deitricl, and after a few
words OF introduction ii stated that an AZ
fair had taken place at 81. Josephs church,
on the Belair road, and that great excite
ment prevailed and the whole neighbour
hood was in connection. Ii read: "The
priests have been drinking and quarrelling,
and Father Miller is dying Two pistol
shots were fred in the house after Vespers,
and no one Is admitted. The doctor is
very reticent. Send some responsible per-
son out at once. Ii is murder or sui
eide" The letter. OF course, alarmed
Father McCOlgan greatly. lie is man
well advanced in years, and il was too
late to go to the place, eight miles out
OF the city, and so he concluded TO
wait until yesterday morning, and at an
early hour drove out 10 the church. Here
again he found that the letter was a cruel
hoax. lie found the assistant pastor, who
knew nothing whatever about the affair.
ana that Father Miller had gone to Balh-
more on Sunday TO attend the Forty Hours
Devotion at the Church OF the Fourteen
Holy Martyrs, on Mount street. Father
Martin was seen yesterday at this church,
and expressed the greatest surprise and
indignation at the hoax. The police are
working on the case, and hope TO be able
to bring the parties TO justice. Mr.. Quinn
knows nothing whatever about the first
message, and there Is no such person as
L. NJ. Deitrick in the City Directory
baltimore american, October 4h.