Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-30
BISHOP PURCELL's DEBT.
A Cruel Hoax Perpstrated by Father
Pheian, ofthe St. Louis" Waachman..

On Saturday night q dispatch was received
from st. Louis, through the Associated
Press, stating that Father Mccarthy,
of that city, had fallen heir to 81 ,0O0,-
600. which he would donate TO the
payment of Archbishop PurceIl's debts.
Later another dispatch was received, asking
that the dispatch be Cancelled; that il was all
| joke. The following particulars OF the
| cruel hoax are taken from the 81. Louis Re-
publican, of Sunday:
FATHER PHELAN's JOKE.
The debt of Archbishop Purcell is a mat.
| ter over which the entire Catholic population
| OF the country is exercised, and the best
manner Of paying that debt has been dis-
cussed time and time again BY the Catholic
| clergy and The press of the same denomina-
| ton. The debt weighs heavily upon the
| venerable prelate and is considered by all
Catholics as matter 10 be removed as
| speedily as possible. All references in the
papers to the debt have been eagerly read,
and not long since it was proposed to take up
collection throughout the country for the
purpose Of paying the debt.
In the last issue of the Western Watchman,
the local Catholic paper, edited BY the Rev.
| ID. 5. Phelan, there appeared the following:
we understand that Father Mccarthy,
who has just fallen sole heir to an uncle's
fortune of 81 600 600, has decided 10 devote
the entire legacy to the liquidation of the
Cincinnati debt"
The announcement was received through
out the country with the greatest
joy, and the good news passed from
| mouth to mouth very rapidly. The
Catholic press took up the matter and
comments were made upon it. In Cincinnati
the local pa pers got the item and it was the
| sensation of the day in the home of the ven-
| erable gentleman from whose shoulders the
great burden was 10 be 50 generously lifted.
The subject was also very much spoken of in
| this city also, and q Republican reporter,
hearing the story, gave chase for the facts in
the case. At the Office of the Western Watch
man the clerical journalist, Father Phelan,
was not to be seen, but his brother, the Hon.
NJ. II. Phelan, was found in the sanctum,
surrounded BY the scissors and quill pen and
paste pot. Senator Phelan was asked about the
matter, and he said that he was not con-
versant with all the facts in the case. He
had not paid much attention to the little
squib when it appeared, and he was sur
prised to learn that the arrival of the
Watchndn in Cincinnati had created such an
excitement. The special correspondents of
the Cincinnati papers had been swarming
around the office like bees, and kilograms
asking the reverend gentlemen to send spe-
cials had also been received. Senator
fhelan referred the reporter TO Father
Pbelan, who has the pastorate of a
thriving church in Baden. The reporter
bosrded ons of the Fifth street canal
boats and went out to Baden, something
like two hours being required TO make the
journey. 1t was dark when the reverend
gentiem ans residence on the summit of a
high hill was reached, and the reverend
editor was pacing his study when the re-
porter knocked on the door. After the scribe
had been thoroughly thawed out before the
stove, the object of the visit was stated.
Then Father Phelan proceeded to laugh, and
he continued TO laugh as q reverend gen.
tleman never laughed before. "Why,
it's joke" said Father Phelan; sits joke
on Father Mccarthy" An explanation was
asked, whereupon the reverend editor
said that he had seen an announcement
sometime ago in q paper from Perry county,
Mo-, to the effect that the Rev. Daniel Nc
Carthy had recently fallen heir TO $l,000,-
900 through the death of rich uncle.
Knowing the aversion of Father Nc
Carthy to anything like notoriety, Father
Phslan thought it would be good joke
to make squib of it, and he did so, taking
the opportunity to throw out gentle hint
to rich church members of a good way to
invest money in q good cause. The idea
that his editorial joke had turned Cincinnati
upside down vas too much for Father Phelan,
and he laughed until he was in danger of
splitting his sides, to use avulgar expression.