The morning times., 1896-01-03
ALLEGED PRIEST in A CELL
Arrested for Drunkenness and Re-
leased on Sobsring Up.
He Is Believed to BE a Well-Known
Young Philadelphia Catholic
Clergy yman.

A man, presumably Rev. Richard ].
Rooney, of st. Patrick's Church, Philadel-
phia. was arrested yesterday afternoon for
drunkenness by Policeman Haynes of the
Sixth precinct, locked up at No. 6 police
station until sober and when released stated
that lie had been robbed or aboaJ $1UU.
He gave the Information that he was on
his way TO GetheseInane, Louisville, by
order or his bishop, 10 go into Retreat as
penanCe for a Christmas spree, which he
indulged in at Philadelphia.
He was found by Policeman Haynes near
.he Baltimore ana ONO station III a dis
tressIng state or drunkenness. To Desk
SergL. Garner he gave The name OF Josiah
Suiiun, Dat also sdiu Jnat he Was a Catholic
priest. When searched a heavy gold watch
Two baggage Checks ana 30 Ill Dii.s were
taken from MIN.
Ills pocketuyok filled with private papers,
Was not uist.rued by the police. he was
locked in Ce.i No. Z at O COCK md sank
directly inJo u heavy s.eep, from winch
he awakened at $50. He asked to be re-
| leased, ana on being pronOunCed sober. his
request was granted.
Desk Ser6t. uarner in making out the
receipt Tor tne cnaJlelS Ia ken from the man
Walls drunk asked him to place a valuation
on the watch.
"tour huuured dollars" said the man.
This staggered everybody In the station.
The desk sergeant sLared in amaZeInent
at the man FOR a moment, and said:
II asked you sensible question:
"Did you not ask me the value Of my
watcn?" politely replied the man,
II did," said MIR. Garner with stern
dignity.
"rUur hundred dollars" said he who
was on the blotier as Josiah smith.
The people in the station Easped again.
for The Times.
II am Il Catholic priest, connected with
st. Patrick's Church, Nineteenth and Pine
streets, Philadelphia. got on a spree
Christmas, ana was ordered by the bishop
into retreat at IOuisy iIe."
He did not know on what day he cached
Washington, who he had been with, where
he had stopped, or where he had been
When Mr.. Garner counted out the 50 the
man said that he had $3.50 when he lert
Philadelphia. He knew that he had over
$500 when he reached Washington. He
had not bought ticket through To Louis
vile.
He had two baggage checks on him, one
for a trunk at the Baltimore and ONO and
one for a valise at the Hotel Enrich, oppo-
site the Baltimore and Ohio sta ton.
MIR. Reese, the niSht clerk, SAID that the
man was brought TO The hotel "Wednesday V
night by man vino said: This is Il
Catholic priest He is drunk. He left
Philadelphia on the 1926 p. m. express and
got here at II O'Clock. Take care or hlm
tonight
The stranger did not register but was
assigned to room No. 6. He checked his
valise at the office at about noon and lett
the hotel after taking 4 rev drlnkSat the bar.
Mr. Reese described the man who brought
him there as about five feet nine inches tail.
brown hair and niustaChe, well dressed and
evidently travelling man who continued
on to one of the do wn town hotels.
The satchel of the stranger contained
besides the usual articles a hrevIary. The
back of the watch was handsomely en-
graved with the monogram /" tx. J L., aud
the interior of the case contained the in-
scription that it was presented to Rev.
Richard J Rooney, upon the occasion of
his ordination.
,a..I hot h. tnh in
place where he could have spent SO much
money. He thought he tniSnt have been
dopcd. He VIII return to Philadelphia
today. He is twenty-eight years old,
smooth shaven. gray eyes. dark, curly
hair, and small, well-rouLded stature. He
was not dressed Us priests usually appear.