New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-17
THOSE STOLEN LETTERS AGAIN.

WONDER AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE STORY
THE WRITER'S HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.
Washington jan 10 (spcc!aD.-"I have been W, ndcr
ing said ono OF the faculty Of the Catholic Uni
versity to The Tribune correspondent this evening,
what the object In sending from Rome slne-
ment that letters had been stolen from Archbishop
ordan I'm Francisco. assure YOU the letters
referred TO all back numbers and have nothing To
do with the recent controversy. Nobody denies the
fact that Archbishop Eordans private Ills have been
robbed. but Of what
Five years AGO. when Archbishop Ireland was In
Rome. there also In that city Bishop keane ana
several other prominent American prcateS. Among
the ecclesastcs was Father Abbecn. OF Milwaukee,
who was a chaplain In Milwaukee convent. Ills
business was TO promote what we call CahcnsNisW'
our American prelatcs learning OF this at once wrote
their friends In the Episcopacy In the Cneq sta'es
warning them OF the effort being made. What Mr.
Drelngs motive was In getting possession OF these
letters do not know, but II Is mn old story here In
the university, and therefore not worth bothcrng
about. Why II comes back from Rome Just now to
figure In connection with the appointment ol the
apostolic delegate Is the mystery have been trying
TO solve About one year ago the students OF TIE
Inlvcrsity sent 10 the Catholic papers throughout
the country copies Of a document written by Arch
bishop Ireland. one Of those copies went to the Euor
OF The Western Wticss, with n request that nc
publish IL. In few weeks letter came TO inc
University from Mr.. Drclng, the editor saying 'ha'
was not the kind Of snR he could print. Ills paper
was against Archbishop Ireland. II the University
people wanted something rare. rich and rocy. they
must subscribe for Il DOCK nc about to publish
which would contain exposure truly startling, ana
all about conspiracy formed by number u American
Catholic Bishops to lnjure the Church. The letters
were those written by Bishop Kcanc, Monsgnor O'Con-
nell and Archbishop ireland. AS Bishop kcanc 5
name was specified IN the threat the letter was shown
tblt,rt ltn pfnrxy ,fth nnn lar
moments notice. Now wc have the report from Rome
that this Is an important feature In the controversy,
whereas every letter purloned from Archbishop Rior-
dams files was written far back 1887 and 1888,
and all were sent ont to warn the American Bishops
Of the effort then being mnde 70 establish European
customs I'm certain Catholic colonies and perpctuatc
Them among the immigrants 70 this country. That Is
all there is TO the wonderful yarn about these stolen
letters.
Now n | should guess the object In mixing up
h,s startling piece Of news with the actual from
Romc | should surmisc that the files OF another
prclote little nearer the Atlantic than san Fran
cisco is TO the Pacific had been inspected and that
letters which are not back numbers are In the pos
session OF persons who willing to negotiate for
facts about what happened in san Francisco ard not
also know that the motive IN getting possession Of
these letters was personal spite. Perhaps I'll. object
Of telling the story in Rome to send somebody
in search OF n rainbow. II that was the purpose
IL has been A great success for, rs said before. the
whole business was known here at the university
a wear ago and regarded as too contemplate TO de-
dig nifty nor Importance In coming from Rome. and
II separated from the story Whcd preGfaSd wona
body in Rome perhap had heard OF the thef and had
assumed that II part Of the great conspiracy to
do not believe that Archbishop Ireland or Bishop
Kenne woud care II all thu letters IN Archblsh9p
only person 1t can possibly inIure Is the man who
boasts Of having stolen property In his possession"