The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-12
PRICE TWO CENTS
A PRIEST GOES MAD AT MASS.
FATHER M'DoNILD ATTicKS FATHER
HILL BEFORE THE ALTAR.


M"dnAn FIsniiy Overpowercs BY the Cop-
Eregntion and Removed Later to ~.
Peters Hospital, wherr, at Last Acc
counts, He Was RavInE LunatIc.
A congregation Of 800 people gathered at 10
O'Clock mass in 81 Pauls Church at Court and
Congress streets. Brooklyn. yesterday morn
ing saw tho mass interrupted and the sanctu-
airy profaned by an assault within the altar
rails by one officiating priest upon the other.
The Rev. Patrick V. Mcdonald. the assistant
priest attacked tho rector. the Rev. W. J. Hill.
and pounded him almost into insensibility be-
fore m EN- bers Of the con gregation could inter-
fere.
The attack took place early in the service.
Father Mcdonald being the celebrant at the
mass had read the Gospel for the day, which
was Matthews account OF the temptation Of
Jesus by satan. He read in rather low tones,
as his voice has been weak for some time past
owing to n hard cold.
For this reason Father Hill Is to take his
place In reading tho announcements. As the
rector walked toward the chancel steps with
the record in his hand. the other priest. to the
establishment OF the congregation. moved rap
idly around the aisle OF the chancel and met
him ut the steps
Father Hill stopped. and raised his hand as
~ anticipating that Father Mcdonald was
through the congregation. and as the rector
turned toward the worshippers with gesture
commanding quiet. Father Mcdonald said to-
him in voice harsh with ill-repressed rage:
"Herel You cant say anything here to-day"
A woman at the back OF the church uttered
an exclamation. Then there was a dead ST.
lence. in which the low. quick tones OF Father
Hill could he heard as no walked over close to
the other priest and said:
=" For Heavens sake stop am only going
to make the announcements Thon you can
You cant" began Father Mcdonald. Sud-
congregation. turned again and threw himself
upon Father Hill. Father Mcdonald weighs
pSor Is n mneh @
| cally. being q medium-s2ed man about ten
yoars older than his assistant. who is 81 years
lie staggered under the sudden onset, reeled
across to the altar roil 1ell heavily S aGaIErst IT,
| simultaneous murmur OF horror the congre-
| CATION spr3ng up. but not moro quickly than
tion OF second. Stretching out his arms
toward the people in q gesture Of dismissal.
leave the church quietly ad at once Seek
| some other sanctuary to cele brais this mass
| There will be no further service in this church
The people made no move. They stood fixed
sh'y aim S toy the %so9
command Father Hill turned toward his AS
s sTssaton WV" was now Slowly 1S Walking S toward
| the chalice. OWNING his purpose. and
| chnlice would be, prolaned b, tho priests
| touch. Father Hill sprang nfter him. A cry
from the people warned the other OF what was
With an unlnteliGibls remark Father Nc
| HILL No sooner had Father Hill come within
reach OF him than the assistant priest, swing
g ms the rG ear TIE rector s
with great force He rolled over on the floor
at this the burly priest seemed to he, sud
denly possessed Of Spirt Sfn th Hitherto
| only wnen he approached him. Now he flung
himself on his knees up9n the other and began
Ties killing him. Help! helpw shrleked .
woman in tho body Of the church :. .r
| man as he ran from a front pew.
A dozen men followed him, and as no seized
| Father Mcdonald by the throat tho others
threw themselves upon the evidently insane
| priest also and dragged him unon his feet, He
| like a leech impeding his movements, and in
three seconds tn, chance! was choked with
% s9'Pf Gs MS{ All tee ehren cried
| bic cIamor could be heard the iniuriated roar
Ing of the craZed giant as he struggled with
In the grasp Of a score Of men he was forced
into the vestry; where he became 1niet a.
feet and taken to tho vestry. His first thought
was Tor his assailRnt and he begged his par
second was for the congregation. lie sent
word out to the people begging them to leave
the church at once with as little disturbances
But il was impossible to clear tho church.
inc aIsies We're ShHE tt enu ~ 90
about women who had tainted Presently 2
%"p 9S1 Of sdS dS S 1 tb
| Butler street station, who stationed him
sell ct the Y Hs5 no TSS to Tor kssp ont the
rumor went abroad in the church that Father
Hin was dying and when, few moments
S SSstis %Ssro T.y feqairsd sGs so@slnsi
hold the murders back. The doctor. after a
brief examination declared fnther Hilrs in
luTies not dangerous. lie had confusion on
the head caused by falling against the railing.
bad hruise on the neck. and several bruises
on his face. lie was taken across the street to
il was more than half an hour after his de-
until the church was cleared was Father Me;
Donald taken out Of tho vestry. as II was feared
that has sa pe %S' Sss IN ha.nd
across the street into the Tectory and locked IN
his room. All the afternoon he was very guiet.
There was TO further service in the church
4 iull account Of the trouble was made to
bishop Mcdonnell. who sent hlcar-General
Mcnamara 10 tnNeStigate., The Nlrar-',eneTal
conferred with Father ilill and reported to the
Eishop who ordered the crazy priest removed
20 81, Peters Hospital for examination as 10
lie was taken there in a carriage. aud on hiI
arrival seemed quiet enough. buy i4tsT 10
tho church was full OF his enemics who were
planning his destTutttgn, lie Nnd.iy Dc aiLs
SO violent THAI AZ lU:45 o'clock last night ths
Sisters At 81, Peters scat q mesSaIe 10 lnHref-
tor Mackellar at Police Hsadquartarf. asking
that an officer be sen5 there u guard the
patient. IL is feared that he will net recover
his sanity.
Al The service held last night at st. ParIs
Church Father Hill did not onciate, brother
priest takinE his place. lie was very nervous
and unstrung last night but made a bEist
statement for publication.
/ am sure said he. that Father McDon-
AID IL mentally unbalanced. EO- some month";
past lie has suffered IRON brain trouble et In
tsryals lie has frequently complained 60 ne
Of severe pains IN his he'd Observation-Disclosures.
inability to sleep sOuudly. and Authorizations
Tyen he hims self realized. / think. thaE Ma
mind was unsteady. \ DT. THOMAS mas been
treat ng him for some time
"As Tor the attack this morning. 1t was totally
aud terribly uuCETected. Father lclpnl.t
has never shown any feeling against mo be-
L. l-..L.n nm