The sun., 1897-11-11
PRIESTS STRANGE DEATH.
THE BODY OF FATHER M'PAKE
FOUND IN AN AREAWAK
re was Curats in Philadelphia Church.
and Was Found Dcaa st Parochial sehsol-
yard with His CisthinG Torn-Ths Coro-
ner's Physician says he Died or Uremia.


and Wns Found Dcaa nt = Parochiai sehsoi-
yard with His CisthinG Torn-Ths Coro-
ner's Physician says he Died or UrDmia.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1o-The Rev. Henry J.
McPake. young curate Of the Roman Catholic
Parish Of the Annunciation. was found dead at
an carly hour this morning In the yard Of st.
Paurs Academy, parochial school pre-
sldod over by the sistorhood OF the church
In an adjoining parish. Circumstances
at first pointed TO murder, but invos-
tigation does not fully sustain this theory, an
autopsy by the Coroner's physician having re-
vealcd this afternoon that death resulted from
ur9mia. There were abrasions on the face
which might have been caused by blows, but
tho priests skull was not fractured, and the
Coroners physcian announced that the wounds
however produced, were not fatal
st. Paul's Academy Is on Christian street
above Ninth, more than six blocks away from
the Church OF the Annunciation, with which
Father McPake was associated. The building
stands opposite to st. Pauls Church. 1t 10 In
closed by q board fence feet high. 1t is occu-
pied by q Sister Superior and thirteen nuns, who
instruct the parochisl pupils in the day classes.
Every night the building Ia closed at $50, and
the high front gate is closed and locked.
How tho priests body came to be in
this yard 10 q mystery. This discovery was
made by Mrs. Reed, the janitress of tho
Academy, who lives in the neiRhborhood.
She reached the building about o'clock, and
while going about hor duties she saw the body
OF man in an arcaway. Sho did not recognize
him as u priest, and notified Patrick Brady. q
liveryman in a rear street, that there was a
drunken man in the yard.
Brady and two other men went to tho scene
and made the discovery OF what was al onco
taken to be murder. The bells were ringing
in st. rauls Church at tho time and the nuns
n the academy were on their to
was summoned quickly. but not before the
police had lifted the dead priest out Of the area
way and laid the body in the yard. The area
way is four feet deep, and is on level with the
basement Four steps lead down to 1t, and at
building. On the steps there were marks Of
blood.
His wastcoat WAS torn open. On his shoulders
rite OF absolution. This had not been removed.
change car ticket and six cents. The ticket had
been sold on Ninth street car, In which ono
dreet Hta 10 10 sao st. Psas @ aeadeny tho
There was no watch found on the body. al
though Father McPake 10 said to have had one.
the fscc, the opinion wesat once adopted that
the young clergyman had becn sandbagged. and
his body In some mysterious manner deposited
in ,he areaway where 1t was found.
Tho police promptly began an Investigation
on that theory, but the appearance OF tho
priests attire when the body was found was
something they could not account for.
In the course Of their investigation they found
wrapped in paper in one of the upper pockets of
the vest $9.70 OF parish money which Father
McPako had collected and which the supposed
ssssi.snt%s a. In their work Of robbery. had over. W
shoulders largely discounted the theory OF
At O'Clock DR.. Cattell. physician to the Cor
&c farnisSsd @ % = osISst: a 'a' ".' .'0 '0pof'
There was no fracture Of tho skuil, no hem.
orrhage. He had typhoid fever last winter.
His in juries were superficial. and no more than
could have resulted from q fall"
the police detectives neyertheiesa Continued
their Investigation on this line. They found
that Father McPake attended meeting of the
Sodality at tho .Annunciation parish build.
ing at 8 o'clock last night. He left at
ss6f Fhf Tse S. R the that
part Of the city. The next trace they got of his
movements was the staten ent OF Daniel Flynn
living in st. Pauls parish. who saw priest get
off Ninth street car at Christian street about
$50 o'clock.
After tho discovery OF tho body this morning
Fathers O'Donovan and Herman, tho rector and
cUrate of st. Paurs Church, held Q conference
| with the Archbishop. 1t has been impossible tc
get n statement from the clergy of the academy
Until the Coroner's physician announced his
opinion OF the cause OF death the neighborinl
| priests believed that their clerical brother had
been foully dealt with.
| Father McPake was 80 years old. He was one
| OF the spiritual advisers of 81. H. Holmes, whc
| was executed In MoyamensinR Prison yeal
| ago, and was present at the execution with
| Father DAILY.