New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-19
CHARGES AGAINST A PRIEST.
MRS. KINGS RErORT TO FATHER CROW
LEYs ALLEGATIONS.

SHE DEMANDS $4,000 DAMAGES FOR REFLEo-
TONS ON HER CHARACTER. AND SUES
NEWSPAPER FOR slooOo-HIs AID
MISSIONS IN COURT
Mrs Elizabeth King formerly Of Southold' Long
nd now Of No. 80 Myrtle-ave, Is the piaintiIi
in two suits in the Supreme Court, one OF 'hei'
against Father James F. Crowley, or 81. Mary
Roman Catholic Church, for S5OUoU damages io'
alleged Islander. and the other against morning
oaper for $4,000 damages on a similar allega-
ton Both actions grow out Of the same occur
rences and the latter suit was placed on trial IN
the Supreme Court yesterday before Justice U.s.
borne and Jury.
Refora Father Crowley came to Brooklyn he
was the pastor OF ST. Patrick's Church In South
old and the Church Of the Sacred Heart. IN
Cutchogue The alleged ISLANDERS occurred while
he was there The article to which Mrs. King
objected said that the plaintiff and her friend VINO
had been the priests housekeeper, had bearded
him In the sacristy OF the church and tried 10
horsewhip him: that they we're prevented by
others who were present. and then began 10 cir
culate stories rejecting on his character and that
when legal proceedings were threatened they left
town.
HE OBJECTED TO HER VISITS.
The housekeeper who was with Mrs. King was
I.ottie Siebold Of Snyder She had been with
Father Crowley for some time. and Mrs. KING
used TO call to see her almost every day IL was
stated that Father Crowley objected 10 THESE
visits. telling his housekeeper that the plaintil
was not proper woman to enter priest ' mousse
that many things might be said that were not 70
her credit and finally he forbade the houseKeeper
from longer associatlng with the piaintiH on PAIN
of dismissal Nevertheless. the visits continued
and the housekeeper was dismissed
Mrs. King testified yesterday that the asper-
sions on her character were malicious ana I'M
true She was indignant when she heard that
Father Crowley had been saying such things
ohout her and she determined 10 make him prove
them or retract Accordingly wnen she ret him
in the church she asked him why ne mao saiu
what ne did. He denied that he had said any
thing against her and then she told him that MS
own character was not Of the best. lie asked her
to come TO his house and he would talk quietly
with her She went to the house and IN me pres
ence OF number Of women VINO nad ioiloWeI
them, she repeated the statements which she mad
made about the priests character. She said that
his actions with certain young girls mad not oeen
right and she had proof of 1t which she exhibited
Then. she says, the priest burst into tears ana
ordered her out OF the house.
THE PRIEST DENIES MALICE.
Father Crowley went on the stand and denied
that he had made any malicious statements about
Mrs King. He said that whatever he said was III
good faith and he believed II to be true on cross
examination he admitted that he was friendly
with two young women, Anna and May higgins
In the article In the newspaper. these girls were
referred 10 as his nieces, but he confessed thal
| they were no relation to him. He said that they
spent one night in his house when the house
| keeper was away. They usually stayed with a
| Mrs Lewis who lived about five minutes wall
away. -
| During cross-examinatiOn the witness became
nervous and finally remarked: II seem TO be on
| trial here I wish now that my lawyer was in the
courtroom" He was informed that his lawyer 3
| presence would do him no good.
The trial OF the was not completed. When
II Is finished the other suit against Father Crow
| ley will be placed on trial