San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-24
ROBBED A PRIEST.
A MISOREANT's DEED OF INGRATI-
TUDE AND AVARIOE.
A Pensioneer of the Late Father Buffard
Leaves Him Only Dollar-May
Have Caused His Death.

Not through the courtesy Of any
marshal, detective or police official
has the LIGHT recently learned Of
the robbery OF prominent church
man Of this city, and which in two
ways may have caused his rather
sudden death. 1t is hardly prob
able the police department Of this
city has yet Caught on"
The residence Of the late Rev.
Father Buffard, who was vicar
general of this Catholic diocese,
was for years in the Ursuline con-
vent grounds, in a small house re-
moved a space from the main
buildings. In this there were
two rooms, one of which was used
as sort of waiting room for those
who called on the Reverend Father
to await their turn for aims or ad-
vice. The other was his study and
sleeping apartment. A latticed
partition interviewed, with a COM
municating door.
AS all the other convent build
ings, this house was protected from
the public by high stone wall,
almost unscalable, the entrance
only being through the main gate,
which leads to the chapel, the only
egress to the convent being by a
carefully kept, heavy door, very
seldom and always cautiously
opened by an attendant.
The door was always opened,
however, to mendicaEts and poor
people who sought Father Billiards.
always ready assistance in charity,
and his daily callers of this sort
were many. He always gave Of
his store, generally in money, lib
orally, and il a caller asked aims
he would 60 to his desk, open a
drawer that seemed never to be
locked, and, drawing it out, take
from 4 pile of coin therein a piece,
or pieces, and give it to the appli-
can't with his blessing. He follow
ed Victor Hugo's bishop, M. N.Y.
riel, "Monsignor Welcome" so
closely that he might almost be
said to be the prototype for the
beautiful character described by
the great novelist.
When Father Buffard fell i'll and
could not, for week previous to
his death, give out his accustomed
charity, q thief, probably one
whom he had benefited, as his
knowledge of the place where the
money was kept almost proves,
scaled the convent wall during the
night and cutting the lattice par.
tition near the lock, gained an
entrance. The dying father heard
q slight noise but supposed ro
dent was the cause OF it, and only
the next day, when he was helped
to his desk, did he find 1t opened
the papers ransacked and $40 OF
the $50 he had had in his drawer
were gone. The thief had over.
looked one silver dollar.
ItSwas probably this discovery
that caused Father Buffard shock
which may have worked on his
nervous system to feel that he was
in constant danger Of thieves, OF
it may be that the thief did return
and cause his death. A week az
ter the robbery he was found one
morning prone on the floor Of hit
room unconscious and never spoke
again. Two severe bruises were
found on his forehead and temple
but whether caused by the fal
from the shock OF paralysis or by
the blow of a robber visitor, car
not be said.
OF his earnings Of thirty years
service at the convent only $l0'
were found among his effects. HI
had dispensed all else in charity
or the robber had found the de
post OF larger sum than he KEEP
in the we'll known drawer.
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