Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-05-09
Second, Father O'Rcilly denies

kLTEME
that Brogan drank wine or any in
~toxicating drink in his (O'Reillyis g.
house. We made no such state
ment. We did quote Brogan's say
ing that he had been drinking tod
much wine, and from it's reported
effect we did not question the truth
OF the assertion. Also we spoke def
initely in regard to the party to
whom we referred as being drunk,
and stated at the same time that We
did not accuse Mr.. O'Reilly Of that
oflense because we did not know
what his condition was. As to the
matter being a drunken revel we
have to say just what we said las.
week, if two men r ergaGed in a
drunken brawl it is a drunken revel;
if there is but one, it is still a drunk
ell revel, and as the evidence of
drunkenness was visible upon one
party ut least, we are not willing To
retract what has already been said
on that point, until some evidence
has been produced giving at least
some grounds for doubt. Now, the
pocket book question. There is d
certain analogy connected with the
circumstances governing the state
meht and the identity of the pock-
ct book. Brogan had possession Of
O'Reilly's pants, and the probabili-
ties are that the well-tilled pocket
book belonged to the owner Of the
pants. Brogan was seen to take
money from said pocket book to the
amount OF two dollars and send a
hoy up town for arnica with which
to doctor his mutilated face and
body. As to the insulting conduct
to whicI, Mr.. O'Reilly refers in not
keeping Mr.. Brogan from public
view, and his answer, we are equally
Indifferent. The matter presented
in its first phase looks as if Mr.. Bro
gan had received such Injuries and
disabilities from bruises and the IF
iects of liquor us would give a sober
and rather muscular man power to
restrain him if he desired; and
again, one c,uld scarcely blaine Bro
gan for retrcating when his1ife SEEM
ed endangered. Look at the matter
as you will, O'Reilly seems to be ac-
countable for the appearance of Bro
gan on the street in the condition
already described. "The oddly Of
the thing" is indeed odd. But all
this talk. is Of little consequence
since the principal particulars that
have come to public knowledge have
already been presented. What the
people now want and what the peo-
pie demand before they can be rec
onciled to a proper appreciation of
Mr.. O'Reilly's innocence, is n full
explanation of the cause Of the diff
Guilty. Who and what provoked a
melee in which these two "er-pound-
ers' punished each other to such a
marked degree? What would in
duce two consistent fathers of the
church to caress each other in such
n forcible manner? If Father O'Reil-
ly was innocent of any improperly,
if he was placed on the defensive
and necessitated' to defend his body
against the attacks Of an assailant,
a privilege which the laws of nature,
Of the government and of the terrific
ry sanction and approve. why has me
not, long ago, come forth anu excus-
ed himself to his good people and to
the public. But we tear this oppor-
tunity was destroyed the moment he
followed Brogan to Mr.. Wards and
renewed the attack. The laws, as
we have said, sanction self defense,
but they do not approve of the bel
ligerent disposition to follow up and
punish the for.mcr assailant.
So far as the above reply or ex-
PLANTATION, or whatever our readers
choose to call it, is concerned, we
have failed to see it's force, and will
adhere to present position until
the matter has been fully explained,
and then as a matter Of justice and
right, we are willing to retract any
thing that is not correct, or that un-
justly reflects upon the character Of
either MIR. O'Reilly or Mr. Brdgnn.
Reading Room.
The semi.annual meeting Of the
members nf the Elk Point Reading
Associatioi will 1e held at the CcUR.
TER office ON Friday evening May II
NJ 1870 p. III. All members are re-
quested 10 attend, as business Of ina
prtance will come before the meet
ing. +. C. ERlcsoN,
Secretary.
a l.lts. Saving Present.