Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-08
A STRANGE CASE
OF HaIIucinatiOn In u Young Girl, Who
Imagined Herself the Posses
sOr OF Angel,
" hom n Catholic Priest ReosOved, and
for Which She IL suing Him la
the sum OF $1,000.

Boston, April GA peculiar case has
been begun before the Superior Court Of Sof
folk county. 1t is that of The parents OF
Lizzie McGannon against the Rev. John II.
Fleming and the R.. Rev. John J. Williams.
The piainiif seeks to recover damages IF
$4,000 for alleged uolswful acts Of deienI-
auts in depriviDg her OF certain images TO
which she was attached. These images were
paper representations of angels the girl
worshiped, declaring they had been sent to
her by her dead brother. The Gaze has seen
jsspribed in the local press. As presented
ing, ii is in substance:
In 1879 Lizzie Cannon was thirteen yesr5
old, attended school regularly, where she
was FIRST in her cisss, and her future gave
great promise Of comfort to her parents. AT
about that time she was STACKED with a ner-
vous disease. Soon her mind seemed 10
dwell on dead psrsons, especially brother
who died two years previous, to whom she
was much attached. Her condition was de-
scribed by her family and friends "a a
trance, but it was a suspension OF mental
faculties. Soon she took two little pieces of
paper like parchment, but when they were
held up 10 the light they disclosed fgures
which looked like angels, She told her
mother the angels caItle from her brother,
who told her to keep them with the greatest
care, and by 80 doing great good would
come to her. The images seemed 10 become
the center of her life.
Her parents were Roman Catholics and it
was decided TO send for the Rev. John II.
Fleming, OF 81. JAmes's church. After
seeing her he told her he wanted her 10 let
him have the images. She di.s.nted but
was persuaded on condition that he would
return them. When he returned he brought
soms beads which he wanted her to exchange
for the images, aud after talking she made
il, charging him to take the beat care OF
them He then told her that If she went TO
sleep in this way he should persecuie tbe
images. She replied, "oh, no, you von't,
tn at would be murder, aud priest would
rot commit murder" On another visit he
found her 10 her peculiar condition and he
took his knife and cut one of the images
and holding it up said he had persecrted it,
Thereupou she went into paroxysm Of grief
and tainted.
Father Fleming was requested by her
mother to leave the images, but he refused,
and from then it was Impossible Tor her 10
sleep without them. Father Fleming fire.
quently came 10 see her, when she would
ask for the images and he would reply he
had them all right and would keep them for
her. From then, which was in May, 1879, TO
Christmas the psroxysnls came on once a
week, and Father Fleming thought it was
miraculous. BY his advice the girl went to
confession, and when she went he would
show her the images. When che went into
trance she Yves unable to speak until she
had the images At Christmas Father
Fleming ceased his visits aud refused to
c1me again. DR.. Hodges, one OF the ply
sicaus called in, pronounced the case one
of hyseria; although he attached no import
10 he inaa fhp,Oht ,i,,bt h.
beneficial if she could have them.
Father Fleming WAS informed of the girls
desire, but he psrsistentlY refused to give
them up. Archbishop Williams WAS ap-
piled TO. When he heard the story he said
the child ought to have them restored, and
he would send an order 10 Father Fleming
to give them up. They did not come, and
second visit was made 10 the arohbishop,
who said the child should have them, and he
would attend to il. Nothing was done, ami
from that time to this, said the counael, no
explanation had been offered by Father
Fleming or the archbishop. From April,
1880, when this occurred, to the present
time, she had not spoken a word. For
months she has laid upon her bed, and her
whole burden Of agony seemed to be her de-
sire 10 say to her father and mother; 81 want
my angels"
AmUus the witnesses examined were Annie
M, Cannon, nineteen years oid, sister OF the
plaintiff, and Arct bishop Williams, who was
examined for the defense, h wing engage.
nnents calling him out of the city. Annie
Cannon testified that at the first visit of
Fleming he repres ented himself to Lizzie az
an inquisitiye traveller seeking information,
and his talk with her was about heaven. AT
confession she said Lizzie was able to.distin-
guish consecra,ed bread, which Father + .em-
ing said was gilt from God and should BE
cherished. On her characterization she
testified she was 40 longer Catholic. R.
gsrding the images, SIZE said they were fourd
by Lizzie in April, 1850, in a box which
came into the house mysteriously, and the
witness was sure that no huLsn agency
placed them there.
She was not sure bat what Father Flenl-
ing might have said, holding up the images:
Would you feel very much hurt if these
were iujufed?" but did not think he said
to her In reference to one of the angels,
do you think there is any virtue in this?'
She also testified on cross-examIna,ion that
her sister, besides other normal conditions,
was subject to the condition called 's.igms."
These symptoms were OF bleeding from little
apertures from the forehead, each hand, foot,
and in the eide of the body. These core,
spending 10 the five bleeding wounds upon
the body Of the Savior when crucifed. She
did not think that the physician, Dr. Hodges,
saw the wounds. She described them as not
constantly emitting blood, but only for a
short time, whsn they would close up and
bleeding would case.
She Testified that some persons had the
power 10 relieve her sister when in a trance
BY laying ON Of hands. While the hands re-
manned she could spesk, but instantly be-
came speeceless when they were taken off.
But Father Fleming bad more power. snd
she could talk as long as he remsirsd in the
room. The mother Of the girl, Mrs. Annie
Nj. Cannon, was examed. She told substan.
TALLY the same story as the sister. The five
wounds, however, she had not herself seen.
and only knew of the bleeding BY seeing
spots Of blood on her clothing afIerward.
Archbishop Williams testified that he
knew little Of the matter. He had told the
father and mother OF the child he corld do
nothing except 10 confer with Father
Fleming. He could not give an order to a
priest in such matter. He had no authori-
ty over priest 10 a matter of spiritual con.
ISOLATION, which was left 10 the priest.
The case went over until Friday. Ex-Goy.
CASTOR is the leading counsel for the priest
and the archbishop.