The Irish standard., 1892-12-03
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1892.
A HISTORICAL TRIAL.


dent, Mark Fitzgerald, who desires te
ascertain his age, we give the fol
lowing particulars of the Ma
guire and McGerratty trial which oc
CURED in Ireland in the days of O'Con.
nell. Father Tom Mcguire was parish
priest in the county of Leitrim who en-
gagged III o public and prolonged discus
sion at the Rotunda in Dublin with Rev
Mr.. Pope, practiced oontroversiaiist
who had challenged any Catholic clergy
man to meet him in religious debate
Father Mcguire, who accepted the chal-
lenge, was comparatively unknown and
many Catholics feared defeat, not from
any weakness of his cause, but from &
belief that the champion Of Catholicity
was unesualiy opposed to sklllful and
experienced polemic. Father Tom
proved himself an able logician, - learned
theologian and powerful wielder of
syllogistio sledge-hammers, Each con-
troversialist had to defend three articles
OF his own and to assaii as many of his
adsersary's faith, according to written
agreement signed by the reverend dis
putants. On the first day of the debate
O'Connell took the chair. The discus
sion attracted considerable attention and
excited much interest in the religious
world and is read by thousands at the
present day. Though many were enter
tanned with the ingenious arguments and
oratory Of the dsbaters, nobody on either
side was converted or proited in the
least by the discussion. AS usual, both
parties claimed the victory, but ali agreed
thab Father Mcguire was a match for
Mr.. Pope. Both disputants wrangled
together with commendabie courtesy and
entertained an exalted opinion of each
others ability and learning, and warm
and mutual regard between Pope and
Mcguire sprung out of the controversy.
The Orange party in Ireland, shortly
after the discussion which occurred in
1927, did not discourage, if they did not
assist, conspiracy which was got up to
destroy the private and clerical character
OF Father Mcguire. A person named
M'Gerratty brought an action the same
year against the priest to recover dam
ages for the seduction of his daughter.
The priest was defended by O'Connell
The young woman on her examination
swore among other things that Father
Mcguire had seduced her under pro-
mise of marriage, to be fulfilled on his
becoming Protestant clergyman! The
jury, coupling this improbability with
serious discrepancies in her testimony,
with her demeanor ia the witness box and
the strong evidence Of her previous bad
character, acquitted Father Mcguire
without Hesitation. For the rest OF his
life, he was undisturbed by foul SANDER.
He was popular man among the peas
antry and took part in che Glare election
in 1928 when O'Connell was elected for
the first time to the British parliament,
He was fine preacher and was often
called upon to plead in aid Of the sacred
cause Of charity. He died suddenly, and
it was suspected that he was poisoned
by two of his own servants who desired
to appropriate to themselves whatever
portable property he was possessed of.
We hope our venerable correspondent
will be interested in reading this brief
sketch OF Father Mcguire and of his IA
NOUS debate and trial, and that he will
get starting point from which to figure
out his age.