The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-23

the father of Downing Vaux. who has long
been engaged to marry Mr.. Booths daugh-
ter, Edwina The wedding was set for early
| last fall, but had to be postponed on account
of Mr. Vaux being accidentally poisoned by
gas Since then his mind has been Eighty
and unsound, but his complete restoration
is hoped for soon, and then they will be mar
ried.
THE LATEST CLERICAL SCANDAL.
The Rev. Florence Mccarthy has been at
| it again. This time his housemaid accuses
him of criminal assault upon her. and the
case is the talk of the day in the City OF
Churches. Some years ago, when the Rev.
Florence first appeared upon the scene as a
Catholic priest in Brooklyn, he became
quickly very popular, especially among the
sisters. His robust, virile manhood seemed
to attract them to him strongly. They went
to confess to him far oftener than TO their
former shepherd-though whether it was be-
| cause they had more sins to confess or
whether he gave them more substantial con-
ISOLATION, did not at once appear. One day,
however, the Rev. Florence left the house
where he had been boarding, and left long
board-bill behind him. When dunned, he
refused to pay it, saying he had given his
landlady's husband the exclusive privilege
of selling liquors at his church excursion and
picnic, which was worth far more than the
beard came to. This was a tri1e rough on
the sobriety of the Rev. Florence's flock.
But 1t didn't satisfy the landlady, and she
brought suit. In hapless moment the
Rev. Florence was fool enough to de-
mand a bill of particulars. This
was promptly rendered, and the courts
hair stood on end to hear the list of things
which teachers or practicers of good morals
are supposed to have no knowledge Of but
which had been abundantly supplied to the
Rev. Florence. The suit was finally COM
promised. Then came a board-bill on the
other side. The Rev. Father Herman was
taken sick at the Rev. Florence's house, and
died. After the funeral his friends went to
the latter's house to get the dead mans little
personal property-clothes, jewelry, gold
headed cane, etc. But, lel the Rev. Florence
refused to give them up, claiming them in
payment of the dead mans board during his
sickness Two bank books of Father
Tiernans also mysteriously disappeared,
and have never been accounted for.
Next, the Rev. Florence was charged with
having attempted improper liberties with the
young lady who played the organ in his
church. The girls mother denounced him
for it in church; he denied the charges
from the pulpit, and then the girls father
arose in his pew and called him liar, and
| there was a good deal of fuss. Before the
case was settled, the last charge of criminal
assault was brought by the Rev. florence
housemaid who has made out pretty strong
case. He charges her. however,
in return, with having stolen
from him some money, books, an
| alarm-clock and an accordion. This puts a
| grave aspect on the case, and the lawyers and
| judges are much puzzled over it. The point
| is this If she did steal the accordion, the
natural presumption is that she did so with
the intention of playing on it. Now, to
| play on an accordion is by common con-
sent adjudged the most heinous crime in the
WI 10 fboY ,11o = he
| flute, for flute now and then wears out;
| but an accordion, never 1t is worse than
| singing "Pinafore," for even Little Butter
cups verses come to an end, while the &C,
Gordon goes on forever. 1t is even worse
| than owning cat, for bootiack has been
known-yes, actuallyl-to drive the cat off
| the back fence. but with the accordion boot
jacks are a delusion and chunks of coal a
| snare. Therefore, if to the already EXTREMIST
crime of playing an accordion the misguided
girl adds the iniquity of stealing it, she has
committed an offense for which the penal
code fails to prescribe punishment. How
ever, may add that the lawyer hopes to
prove that she does not play on the ac-
Gordon, while the Rev. Florence does and
that she stole it to keep him from playing on
it. If this can be established of course she
will be promptly acquitted, and gold
medal and life pension be voted her by the
common council.
COURT SCENES.
Montague took me, the other day, to the
Court of General Sessions, where Mr. Bel
mont's suit against John Dewey was being
tried. 1t is the great criminal court of the
city. The courtroom is ventilated by a big
skylight in the center of the ceiling From
this hang four ropes, by which it is opened
or closed. The lower end of each rope is
tied up in loop, looking for all the world
like hangman's moose. These are the first
objects the prisoner sees when he is led into
the dock, and they hang right before his
eyes all through the trial. They must give
him an unpleasant sensation. Montague
says that once, during a murder trial. some
one hung on each of the two ropes nearest
the prisoner card. On one was written, in
letters he could easily read "Memento
mort" and on the other: "Respice finem;
respice funem."
Recorder Smyth is a worthy successor to
Recorder Hackett. His dignifed and au-
thoritative manner enforce the utmost order
and decorum, and everyone has learned that
! he is not a judge to be trifed with The
| ''shysters" who frequent the court are get
ting discouraged. The other morning, when
bailed case was called neither plaintiff
| nor defendant appeared, but the
''shyster" who acted as the defendants coun-
sci muttered under his breath, Ready" and
| then, in full tone, said: Your honor the
complainant not being in court 1 move that
| the bond be discharged" But Smyth saw
through the trick and ordered the crier to
summon the plaintiff, who then appeared at
the rear of the room. Then the defendants
counsel asked for a postponement. But
you answered ready" said Smyth, whose
ears had been wide open "Oh, no. your
honor!" stammered the other, "I-I-I
moved that the bond be discharged" but
before that you said you were ready" But,
| Dc
years, and" And for that very reason it
shall be tried and settled now," Numbered
Smyth. And it was.
l don't know what the result will be, but
ten cases have been started against the bridge
trustees for damages by persons who were in
n 40 OF nanOratiOn no