New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-12
A PRIEST GOES CR1ZY.
FATHER HILL KNOCKED DOWN IN
CHURCH BY HIS ASSISTANT

BROOKLYN \ SCENE or GREAT EXCITE
MENT-THE SERVICES SUDDENLY BROKEN
TP-TATHER MDONALD SPRINGS At HIS
SUPERIOR AND STRIKES HIM TWICE
TO THE FLoOR-INsANITY GIVEN
As TIE ONLY CAUSE.
An exciting episode occurred yesterday In S.
Paurs Roman Catholic Church. at Court and Con-
gress SITS. Brooklyn. at the morning mass. The
Rev William j. IIil. pastor of the church. was
struck in the chancel. 10y his first assistant the
Rev Patrick Mcdonald Mcdonald is supposed to
be insane. and it is said that he became angerel
because Father Hi assumed some of the functions
that had before devolved upon him. He vented his
anger by a blow which knocked down Father Hill,
and. he rose. knocked him down again. These
sacrilegiOus actions In front Of the high altar and
within the chancel rail. Mortified the great congre-
cation filling the church. and several moments
passed by before some OF those in the front pews
recovered sufficiently to spring over the chancel-
rail and seize the maddened priest. From his
actions 1t was judged that Father Mcdonald was
insane, and he put under restraint. while
Father Hi was cared for by some OF his parish
toner's lie suffered no serious injury. but a lump
as large egg swelled up on his forehead
where he struck, and his face was cut
WORSHIP BROKEN.
Such an occurrence was unprecedented in Brook
lvn anl il caused the greatest excitement In the
church 1t occurred the time Of making an
n0unccm,n;S in the service. afo: the mass, and be
fore the sermon. II prevented Father Hi from
preaching. and the service was stopped at that
point hut he ohiciatcd at services last evening
II had been the habit OF Father Mcdonald to make
the anno,,ncements bui his voice was not strong
cnought to be heard in all parts Of the church and
Father IIin started to max" them yesterday. IL
was at this that Father Mcdonald took umbraGe
and made his violent outbreak.
81 Paurs IS the Oldest Roman Catholic church
in the city and has a large congregation and
valuable property The Rev. William j. Hill has
been the pastor for a rumber OF years and is
greatly beloved 10y his people. He is about forty
seven years Old and Is of the leading priests OF
the Rrpoklvn diocese. The Rev. M"=srs. Mcdonald
and Dunphy are his assistants The first named has
been connected with 81 Iauls Church about two
wears H., oiHciaied As ,hc ceebrant OF the mass
AT 10 a. N. yesterday. and Father ili was the
deacon The latter noticed nothing unusual In the
conduc; OF his assistant until jus; after the Gospel
had been read Father Hin took up the book
containing the announcements for the week from
the altar read th,m to the congregation, Whi"
Father Mcdonald WAS still; kne,ing. The latter go;
up as he did 50, and turning to him. said You
can't speak here. Father Hill." In - loud a tone
that it was heard by people in the front pcws
Father U!l whispered TO him. For Heavens
sake. keep quiet. I will make the announcements
and YOU can go on with the Credo
He THROWS HIMSELF AT HIS SUPERIOR
With this Father Mcdonald. who weighs about
2oD pounds. threw himself upon Father HNl win
all his weight; knocking him down the altar steps
and sending him heavily against the sanctuary
rail Father Mcdonald resumed his place at the
be couid We s;e,disd himself agalns; the rail and
asked the congregation To 60 away as quietly as
possible the service would not be continued.
The unexpected scene. and the sudden terminate
OF the services caused much amazemeni. and the
people stood hesitating not knowing what wouid
next happen.
THE PRIEST JUMPS ON HIM AGAIN
As Father IInl turned to the altar he con-
rronted by Father Mcdonald. who had a heavy
cba,ice OF wine in his right hand. Father Hn
tried to take It from him. Then Father Mcdonald
clenched his left fist AMI struck Father IN
powerpb n b eS% oT "9ef Sf thu inc chanc sher Mconsd
set down the chace and then sprang upon Father
ryea,d M ai hiI rsine The Gesccraton Of the altar
by this conflict 50 amazed the consT%esh,@ % @ ,oh una,
OF the men in the front p"ws hurried to the a!d 81
TS1sT 5 m M h reaq an" Of thu @ churSh on ran M out for &
and Policeman Reynolds was sent from thr iutrr,
s5a sa sia9" bc6 h4s H ms INTO the ycS,ry FaG6er iii
was asosted to the rcctory across me HE fsc was
bloody reside the lump his forehead; his nose
was swollen ana thcre cut behind his ear
\ physician was sent for TO attend 70 MN.
MDoxALD SENT TO THE HOSPITAL"
As soon as ne recovered from the shock. he sent
word Of the affair to Bishop Mcdonnell. VINO sent
Vicar-G General Mcnamara to confer with father
Hill Meanwhile Father Mcdonald had h'en strip
ped Of his priestly vestments and taken 10 MS
room in the rectory He had subsdei after his
violent outbreaks, but was acting strangely IN"
result Of the conference with Nicar-Gencral
Mcnamara. the decision TO send me prigs, , TiY
had desecratcd the church to 81 Peter lioSptai,
for treatment. II" placed in room ll"ie' am
at late hour last night The sisters & IN I"psr stroI i.
man detailed to watch him. as he h"d peco''e
violent.
POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS GIVEN
After relating the foregoing story. Father l'l
was asked last evening what he tho"Rn' was
the reason his assistant had acted as n" H'h.
81 think he must have become suddenly nshhc'
he said. There Is no other theory on which can
explain his actions. He had behaved properly AZ
the earlier masses. and do not think that ne was
excited by anything so far as know ne ha1 not
been drinking Although he is somewhat eccentric
I think his mind must have suddenly become I'M
hinged"
Father Mcdonald Is about twenty-eight years oi'
and he was educated and ordained In Rome lie
found last evening who could explain ms actons'
save the ground OF sudden INSANITY IL was Sdiu,
however, that he might have taken too Hluch wine
at the earlier masses. as the cOnSecrated VINE II
drunk BY the priests the altar. II was low mass
at which the outbreak occurred. Inc ponce TOOK
psins to conceal the facts of the occurrence Al
though policeman had been suminohe,' t IL ,,% was
said last evening at the police station that nothins
was known of IT, It was only when the facts were
otherwise made known that they were indmitted
among the members Of the church last evening ana
IL is expected that Bishop Mcdonnell VIII soon act
In the affair.
A GALLANT PESCUE FROM FIFE.