Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-26
1T WILL NOT BE SOLD.
Only Nine Acres of the UrsuIine Property 10
Go on the Blarket-A Dicker About the
Terms Of sottIement-& $50. 900 VIII be

Only Nine Acres of the UrsnIine Property 20
Go on the Market-A Dicker About the
Terms Of setilemenI-S5O.OO 900 Will be
Offered Mother AlphOnse.
The trouble at the Ursuline Convent has
been brought up again. Mother Alphonse,
one of the deposed nuns, with one of her
adherents. was in town yesterday, and for a
short time created considerable excitement
among real estate men. She visited the
office of w. A. Heron & Sons, and wanted
them to place the convent property on the
market She was very tragic, and in loud
voice said the property was theirs and
they would have 1t sold, regardless of what
the other sisters and Church authorities
thought Of the transaction.
The property will not be put on the
m arket, Notwithstanding the publication
yesterday afternoon to that effect It is
probable that part of the ground will be
sold, but there is not the slightest possi-
bility that the beautiful school building
will be put under the hammer. The idea of
selling part of the property was agreed to
by the attorneys some weeks ago, and they
have been trying to get it on the market
since that time.
The property consists of IA acres of good
building land and the school building. 1t is
proposed to sell nine acres of the IA and raise
enough money to pay the claims of the
deposed nuns. It will be remembered that
the higher church authorities decreed tnat
the nuns should be paid $40, 900 apiece if
they would leave the convent and go away.
At that time there were six of them. One
of them has since died, and this leaves five
remaining nuns who are still causing.
trouble.
The prominent Catholic laymen of this
city who are interested in the settlement of
the trouble have tried several schemes to
raise the money, to stop the scandal. It will
also be remembered that six of them pledged
$10,0 900 apiece and offered it to Mother
Alphonse. She spurned the offer and de-
manded $75, 900. As she was determined to
take the matter into the courts, the gentle
men withdrew their offer and have since re-
fused to do anything In regard to the mat
ter. The attorneys since then have tried to
interest others without much success. As a
final result it was proposed that part of the
ground surrounding the building be sold,
and the money used to pay the claim. It is
supposed that the nine acres would bring
$100, 900. There is debt, including mort
gage of $4,000, on the property now. If
the ground sells for 500, 900, this will be
used to pay off the incumbrance. After that
is done, it will not be a hard matter
to again mortgage the property and borrow
the amount necessary to pay Mother
Alphonse and her supporters. Ii satisfac-
tory terms with them can be made they will
be paid off. 1t is proposed that they settle
for 1000, to be paid without interest in
five years.
Charles F. McKenna, Esq, one of the at
torneys for Mother Gertrude, who is in pos
session of the convent now, when seen last
evening said: ''Mr. Ferguson and myself
are negotiating for terms in regard to the
payment of the claims. The convent authori-
ties are paying taxes on the land, and it is
of no use to anybody. Nine acres of the
ground could be sold without detriment to
the building. 1 do not see why Bishop
Phelan is mentioned in the matter. He can
not settle the claims. The property belongs
to the convent. which is chartered State
and is not diocesan building.
1t is mistake to say that all of the property
will be sold."