St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-04
Alcoholism and the Morphine
Habit Kill Father Peter
Herbert FerOn.
Disowned by the Church. He
Breathes His Last in a
Hospital.
Empire Statesmen Present a
Weighty Petition for Bal
lot Reform.
All England Agitated Over
the Supension Of Radical
Labouchepe.

PHILADELPHIA, March 3.-The coro-
ner is to-day engaged in the investiga-
ti0n of the case of Rev. Peter Herbert
Feron, the priest who died at the Penn
sylvania hospital Yesterday. 1t has
been learned that Mr.. Feron was born
in England and was brought TO this
country in childhood by his parents.
He expressed a desire to enter the
priesthood when about fifteen years OF
age, and, after the usual prelilnlnarleS.
was adopted as student at the instl-
tute of st. Joseph's, at Baltimore. lie
was ultimately ordained and became
quite favorite as priest here. lie
was eloquent, we'll educated, earnest
and sincere. Soon after he began work IN
the ministry lie became addicted to the
use of ardent spirits, and every means
was adopted to prevent the growth or
the desire for intoXicants, but in vain.
He lost all his regular appointments,
and still his friends pleaded with the
authorities of the church in his behalf.
He was again and again permitted to
preach. but so often failed to meet his
engagements that finally he became
clerical oulcast-in WORD
A PRIESTLY TRAMP.
He went to Cincinnati. Chicago, ST.
Louis, st. Paul and other cities and
preached as occasion offered, buC his old
failing got the better Oh him everywhere.
At last he retl rned to Baltimore, the
city he called his home, and after sea-
son of recuperation, he started out
again, this time as all unauthorized
missionary. the church having refused
its sanction. He went to a number OF
cities and sought engagements Ill vain.
He wrote to many Wears IN all parts OF
the country, but got no COMMISSIONS.
About ten days ago, according TO lntor-
nation lodged with the coroner to-day.
Father Feron came to this city. He did
not seek the priests of his order or the
prominent officials of the Catholic
church, but in a circumlOcutory way
got acquainted with Catholic lady,
and alter IL number of visits and a
lengthy explanation, informed her of
his position. He told her how he had
sought service in behalf of the church
in vain. and finally intimated his weak
ness for drink. She SympathiZed with
him and sent him to her own physician.
He told the doctor his condition and
asked for a morphine prescription. This
was refused. He then pleaded for an
injection of morphine, as he said he was
suffering the torments of the damned"
DR.. Burns declined to administer the
sedativp and Feron left his office.
The unfortunate fellow then visited a
dozen physicians. but failed to obtain
relief, every one advising him to go to
a hospital for treatment. Finally he
called on doctor, who declined co give
him prescription. but in order to quiet
his pain and horrors. administered hy-
podermic injection of morphia. This
relieved FerOn and he went to a saloon
and took more liquor, which was sold to
him, as he appeared perfectly sober and
said he was in great pain. Subsequent
ly he was seen to
FALL. IN THE STREET
and was taken into drug store. Here
it was found tnat his injuries were not
serious, hut his condition was such that
medical treatment was necessary. The
police patrol wagon was summoned
with the idea that he would
receive medical treatment at
the station house, thither he was taken
aud committed as ''drunk." His seri-
GUS illness was discovered later, and he
was taken to the st. Charles hotel,
where he had registered on Friday as
p. Herbert. At the hotel he was put In
his room and attended, but his condition
was such that the proprietOrs concluded
TO send him to the PENNSYLVANIA hos
pital. Here last evening he died. He
told the hospital physician that he had
been give hypodermic injection, but
refused t, 5I.ulge the name of the sur
geon who had performed the operation,
and soon after died. An inquest will
be held tomorrow.
The post mortem examination re-
vealed the fact that death was caused
by pulmonary apoplexy, due to the ex-
cessive use of narcotics and alcoholic
stimulants. The bruises on the body
were all found to be superficial, and had
nothing to do with the death OF the un-
fortunate man.