The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-18
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Girl OF lkls rsrssh. :

Ntth - -. u .
GxNEsEo. N ]. .April 1.-THE trial ofthe Rev.
Charles Flaherty. pastor OF 81 Patriok's Church
Of Mount Morris, on the charge Of sssaultinr A
young girl who was . member Of HIS copRrs-
estien will begin to-day. The girl IL Mary
Sweeney. known as Marie Eoonan. She was
taken when six years old from the Orphan
Asylum In CanandaiRua by Mr.. and Mrs.
Maurice Noonan. In whose family che has
since lived. She was not formally adopted. but
has been treated as one OF tho family. Mr..
Noonan is President OF the village OF Mount
Morris. and 10 one OF the most prominent Of
Father Flahsrty's church members. q leading
business man. and the priests most bitter 40
cussr.
Father Flaherty was born in Bnldwinsyille,
N. Y. thirty-nve years ago. and was educated
for the priesthood ct Auburn and Rochester.
He has been pastor OF St. Patrick's Church
eleven years. His character has been asssiled
several times during his residence in Mount
Norris. Several years ago stories were circu.
lated about the village concerning the priests
relations with certain young women In his
church. Lately anonymous letters and letters
denunciatory have been written to Bishop No
Quade. who has never paid any attention to
them. When he sent Father Flaherty to Mount
Norris he said he sent him to stay. There
had been trouble there with other priests. and
1t is said that tho Bishop was tired Of tracing
IN petty lights. so he sent Father Flaherty to
eight II out
Father Flnherty announced that he would
mako q statement from the altar on tho Sun
day following his arrest. and as a consequence
q crowd OF people from adjoining towns
Geneseo. Evansville. Nunday. Groveland. and
other places. drove over to Mount Morris aud
crowdedt the church. which is one OF the hand
soonest in western New York. In the mean
time Bishop MeQuade wrote a letter to Father
and sermon. the priest, with white face aud
the e%onsrseation and. with . vshsmencs that
bIooksd no check. said:
before You this morning of ali the facts IN tSls
nj, matte h,s, but ! o rsSeiySd a ne Letter to- last plight Shed ir ON
ever. Of the three persons whom charge with
this conspiracy against my character. MI.
s SaEnani eass tool IL /; a tSeir hands, hs' w We sH lie:
the responsibility l do not know. but the truth
nfirmsd. It is not my businSss to speak Of
such things at the altar. and 1 an not trying
He then went on to say that Mrs. Noonan
her jealousy Of her husband and the eir! IN
and stayed several months. leaving the girl
as hoqsokseper io5 her hrshsrd; .o...
sfsns 70! Ills one tssrr aBHH o TsS@ 70 ny sA. snsm 1ss
s sinalsation 70 Of p the la aRe' sat to ssrrs % out nh tne IL
own malicious schemes. They determined to
thrust ne into 2 Ell and they made their
He then repeated his affirmation OF limo
cence. A purse OF $3.50 was. presented to him
Of his pa-ishioners.,
-. n M !. N Hi,S No in ms sIGssk tog. Of ths .fff fI:S ssia;
that / have acted. 1 could not do otherwise.
believing the girls statement, to DO true. She
March. Ny warm regard Tor Father Fishe ,rss
10 time. past must convince the people Of
Since Father Flaherty's arrest the people to
have practically besieged the %rectory. 1t isa
known fact that he had many debts. He was
t Mso e miehs some M t tn hi 1ne and 1t h Il Is o andsfstood
that he acted as such several times to his
sorrow: ,.. arr.
on the indictment CHARGING violation OF the
s s5lsss!s ss!'p as i ss ssf ss e. e r ! S'st h.st o. q {
s MSanss MOTHS %aH and ar r fsssr 4. y Aendrief sa9 81 p! New 2.
lase and !: 4: Hastinss q Mount Me5ris. 4
t Inse tr ia e' Ehish Is IS thu lSso onl Sa one es w%is sn' wiil o der
cupy this term OF court.
Father Fiaherty cane into court early and
frequently conferred; He was very pale. but
strain under which he WAS laboring. The.
Court has decided TO exclude the public from
the trial. which will be conducted within
closed doors as far as curious hearers are con-
cerned.
When District Attorney Reed announced
that Father Flaherty would not be tried on the |
rape indictment, counsel OF the defence said
that he had not boen informed Of the intention
OF the prosecution until two weeks ago. and
asked that that Indictment be dismissed. The
request was refused. Objection was noted.
and u demurrer against the indictne pt moved.
The work Of selecting a Jury was proceeded
were examined during the afternoon and ten
jurors were secured. Mr.. Coyne has SO far
succeeded in kseping Roman Catholics of tho
jury. Seventeen talesmen remSin from which
to choose the two remaining Jurors.
The complainant. Mary Sweeney. was in
court this afternoon for.a SHORT time in eoth-
she has lived nearly all her life. She Is
girlish, In appearance and has an attractive
face. Her BABY was born a month ago and is
doing we'll
STEALING IN TIE Wf6 THEIR