The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-08-05
MARRIAGE OF A PRIEST.
young Father sherman, OF Brooklyn, Breaks
His Vows of Celibacy


Young Father Sherman, of Brooklyn, Breaks
His Vows of Celibacy.
(From the New York Starr
The announcement made q few days
ago that the Rev. William J. Sherman
the assistant priest of the Church of the
Visitation, in South Brooklyn, had brob-
en- his pricstly VOWS by marrying Miss
lille Mccoy, is believed to be true by
the friends Of both parties. Although
said to be married on June IA, no one
suspected it until th1cc weeks ago. The
matter became q rumor about two weeks
ago.
Father Sherman is the son of Michael
Sherman, wealthy contractor living at
No. lG5 Warren street, South BROOKLYN.
Ho courted Tillie Mccoy few wears
ago, but whom sho refused to marry him
he consented to the wishes Of his parents
and became priest. After ordination
he resumed his visits to the McCoy fami-
ly, and finally induced Miss Tillio to
marry him. The ceremony was Der
formed by Rev. Francis j. Schneider, of
No. 81 Second avenue, New York, who
was reused out Of bed to do the office.
The groom said he was 27 years old and
the bride 25. It is asserted that oven
after the marriage Father Sherman pcr-
formed his pricstly duties, and vohcm-
cnt.y denied to his mother and father
that he was married.
Rev. Father Lane Of the Chdlch of
the Visitation said that he heard it in
timated that Father Sherman had been
married. "But as it was only rumor," !"
he said, 81 paid no attention to it.
Father Sherman has been away on q
vacation for more than three weeks, and,
of course, before taking any action in
the matter L want to wait q reasonable
length Of time to sec if he intends to re-
turn. he should have been back several
days ago. If he does come back L will
not permit him to officiatc until he clears
his skirts of these charges. L understand
that he denies that he is married. 1t
looks very strange, if he is innocent, that
Of his absence"
Atthe Episcopal residence the Bishops
sc cretary said that prompt steps would
he taken to ascertain whether Father
Sherman was married or not. AS he did
not make any attempt to of1icatc, no
action had yet been taken. Besides no
charges had yet been made. Now, that
the matter was the subject Of public dis
cuSSlon, prompt action would be taken.
If Father Sherman could not satisfactor-
lly prove that he had not been married
he would be cXcommlmicated. Of course
the marriage could not be sanctioned by
the church, SO, if he and Miss Mccoy had
been married they could never again be
identified with the church.
Father Sherman's parents md his sis
ter are heart broken. They refused to
sec any one except near relatives.
Michael Sherman, the priests father is
about so years of age, and wealthy
contractor. A reporter who called at
the residence found tho whole family in
tears. When asked if the story was true,
he said he feared it was eff it is" he
said, between sobs, 'thc boy is dead to
me. L never want to see OF hear of
him."
"Do you know where he is?"
81 have not the least idea. The farth-
er away the better, if this story is true
1t has broken our hearts.
Upon the front of the comfortable
looking house at No. ~ Douglass street
which has been for years the homo of
Miss Tillic Mccoy, was Il bill announc-
ing the house to let. Things inside the
house were in confusion. Carpets were
up and the furniture was being prepared
for removal. The aged mother and 9th
er members of the family were in the
same heart-broken condition as the fami-
ly of Father Sherman. Edward Mccoy,
brother of the alleged bride, is the head
of the house. He is fine looking, in
tclligent young man of 25 years. When
asked about the statement of his sisters
marriage, he said firmly: owe have
nothing to say about the matter" When
informed in what frame of mind the
Sherman family were, he said:
81 should think they would be TO have
such q son. They spent no end Of money
upon him."
"Will you not either deny or affirm
the statement?"
cit would not have been made public
only for the betrayal Of friend. He
was hard up for money and sold the in
formation. / know who he is, and it
won't be good for him when 1 lay my
hands on him."
''Do you know where your sister or
Father Sherman is?"
"The latter / don't want to know any
thing about. [ hope L will never sec or
hear of them"
"Don't you know that they arc living
some where on Atlantic avenue?"
''To be candid, do know. They arc
not at the place you name. Under no
Sherman Is. However, it will be impos-
slble for you or any one else to find
him.
1t was said by the neighbors that
owing to this affair the Mccoy family
intended to leave Brooklyn. It is also
believed that Father Sherman has gone
OT 0oin0 NVoct