Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-11
SOME INSIDE FACTS.
No Decision Has Been Rendered in
the Ursuline Convent Case.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
A Syndicate Who Wanted to Give MOthel
st. AlphOnse 100000.
THE BUILDING MAY HAVE TO BE SOLD

noon paper Yesterday to the effect that the
decision of Rome in the Ursuline Convent
case had arrived in the city and was in
favor of Mother Alphonse. 1t was stated
that an order had been received from the
Propaganda directing that $4,000 be ten
dered to the deposed Superioress in payment
for her share of the convent buildings. It
was also stated that the decree was brought
to the city by Archbishop Ryan November
Z, and the reason it was not given out was
on account of the defeat of Mother Gertrude.
The information contained in the article
was entirely false. No decision has yet
been made, and it will be some time yet
before any recommendation is received from
Archbishop Ryan. The facts of the matter
are as follows:
A year ago last May q meeting was held
in the rooms of the Columbus Club by
number of well known Catholic gentlemen to
take steps toward settling the difficulty at
the convent. Those who were present at the
meeting were the late James Gallery, Will
lam Loef1er, James Phelan, A. f. Heating,
A. J. Barr, John D. Scully and John Nc
Cafrey.
IT ANTEDATED THE SUIT.
IQ6 me6IlQR was 0elu long UclOIc buC suit
was entered in the civil courts against
Bishop Phelan, when the case was fully
ventilated in the newspapers. The gentle
men at the meeting pledged themselves to
raise $50, 900, to be paid to Mother Alphonse
with the understanding that she and her ad-
herents were to leave the convent building
and give Mother Gertrude no further trou-
BILE.
A committee composed of William Loeffler
and James Phelan waited upon Mother Al
phonse and offered her the promise OF $780,
600 If she would leave. The offer was re-
iected and S75, 900 were demanded for her.
self and five adherents The offer of $40, 900
each was repeated and again refused.
This was Immediately after Mother Al
phonse was deposed, and without the init
nation of an appeal to Rome the meeting
was called by James Gallery with view to
peace and harmony. When Mother AL
phonse saw that she could not get $75, 200
she entered suit against Bishop Phelan and
Mother Gertrude. In the bill she claimed
that Bishop Phelan had exceeded whatever
power and authority he had in the church
and religious community in deposing her as
President of the corporation. The Bishop,
in his answer, denied interfering with her
civil rights He claimed that in deposing
her he simply acted in his sphere of his
episcopal duty and removed her as the head
of the religious community. The case was
heard before Judge Stowe, who dismissed
the suit. Then Mother Alphonse appealed
to Rome and renewed her appeal for pecu-
MARY reimbursement. Pope Leo recon-
mended that if the convent was worth as
much as represented-$30 ,000-the easiest
way out of the difficulty would be the pay
ment of $6O, 900.
THE OFFER HAD LAPSED.
An attempt was then made to secure the
Sc, 900 pledged at the meeting held year
before. 1t was then found that the laymen
were so disguised at the action of Mother
Alphonse in rushing into court that they
refused to renew their offer. They stated
that the deposed nuns had scandalized the
institution in the press, and refused to go
into any arrangement to raise money for
the benefit of Mother Alphonse. AT the
request OF Bishop Phelan the matter was
taken out of his hands and turned over to
Archbishop Ryan for his consideration.
The latter is still wrestling with the ques-
tion of how to raise the money to recon-
pense Mother Alphonse and the other
French nuns who are discontented.
The property is already mortgaged to the
extent of 500, 900. The paper is held by
the estate of William ThaW. The latter ad-
vanced the money to the nuns to build the
house. There is also floating Indebtedness
of between $40, 900 and $4,000. It will be
seen that the interest on the property, taxes,
etc., amounts to considerable and the insti-
tuition cannot stand another mortgage. It
is taxed to its fullest extent. The addition
of a $50, 900 mortgage to it, even if Mother
Gertrude, and her adherents agree to that
amount would handicap the institution.
When the grounds were purchased from
the Zug estate, they cost the order $50, 900
for the 13 acres. The valuation of the
grounds and building now has been esti-
mated by real estate experts at $250.000
AN EFFORT TO REALIZE.
No decision has yet been made as before
stated, and the truth of the matter is that
there is no case to decide. It is true that a
document from the Propaganda was re-
ceived months ago, recommending that the
Sisters settle the trouble between them
selves. By this arrangement, if the prop
erty will permit it, it is said that a number
of building lots in the tract will be sold,
and the proceeds turned over to the dissatis-
fed nuns. The front of the property on
Fifth avenue is mostly perpendicular, and
some difficulty would be experienced in dis
posing of the lots for building purposes.
Mother Alphonse sent two emlssaries to
Rome to lay the matter before the Propa-
ganda. There was no trial nor any debate,
Mother Gertrude being disposed to let Rome
settle it without making any statements one
way or the other. In view of the fact that
there was no trial there could be no ecclesi-
astical decision rendered. The only thing
done was the presentation of the statement
from Mother Alphonse that she desired to
leave the convent and found another house
in another diocese.
1t was again rumored yesterday that John
Dunlap had the mortgage of 100000
against the institution, and the building
would be sold to pay Mother Alphonse and
the other five dissatifed nuns SIC, 900 apiece.
A DISPATCH reporter called on Mr.. Dun
lap at his residence across from the convent
last night. Mr.. Dunlap said:
mo, have no control over the mort
cages. They are held by the Thaw estate,
and do not know whether or not there is
any disposition to sell the property. The
ground was sold BY me as Chairman of the
Zug estate for S35,OOO. 1t has been consid-
erably improved since then, but could
not say what the place is worth. The build
ing cannot be used for any other than edu-
cational purposes, and unless intended for
that it would not bring much at sale. 1
think Madame Alphonse will be recon-
pensed for her labor and money put into the
institution"
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