Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-10
REQUIRES EXPLANATION.

4 News Centre in Martins Ferry Which
Performs strange Feats-An Explanation
Sought, hut None Obtainable.
There is a seeming mystery at Mar
tins Ferry which urgently calls for
light and explanation.
The apparent source is Rev. Father
McCaffery, who for a month past has
been filling the place of Rev. Father
Mattingly, who is absent in New York
City. ILL., Father McCaffery came from
Columbus, it is understood. about the
first of the year, TO fill Rev. Mattingly S
place. and has since oficiated IN the
parish OF Martins Ferry.
About two weeks ago the Register
was called UP by telephone, by voice
which said it belonged TO Rev. Father
McCaffery, at Martins Ferry, and die
tated two news items, which the speak
er asked to be given to the Associated
Press as a favor. The items were da-
led. one at Detroit, and the other at
point in Ohio. were perfectly lucid and
entirely plausible, save that they dealt
with large figures. One was devoted
10 an estate, said TO be located IN MGR
igan and Wisconsin, and its value was
rated at S22,0000J. 1t announced the
appointment of counsel for the exec
utors. naming an Ohio attorney and
giving some account of his abilities,
with a list Of legal works he was the
author OF. The other item told briefly
of the failure of Michigan colonization
Society. with assets of about 81, 500 ,OUO
and assets Of practically nothing" The
items were duly forwarded to the AS
ciated Press, at Pittsburg, with an eX-
planatory note that they were sent by
request. The matter appeared just
trile queer. however. and an investi-
cation followed which demonstrated
the lack Of the essential element OF
truth. ne matter afforded theme
for days speculation, and was then
forgotten in the rush of more import
ant events.
Monday evening about nine o'clock
the Register was again called up by
voice which said ii belonged TO Father
McCaffery. and there was again the re-
quest to take down an item for trans
mission to the Associated Press. The
Register declined 10 take the item, but
suggested that the local agent of the
Associated Press. Al the lntelligencer
office. be communicated with. Then de-
yelopments were awaited. They came
in Yesterday mornings lntelligencer,
which printed the story. with causuc
comments. The Inteligencer ascer-
tanned that the item came from the res
idence of Rev. Father Mattingly, IN
the name of Rev. Father McCaffery,
but did not appear to know that tIe'e
was really such a person in existence
as Father McCaffery. 1t made enqulr-
les AT Alliance. O.. however, where the
item furnished was dated, and ascer-
tanned that the persons named IN the
item we're unknown there. The item
briefly stated. asserted that Walter
Souareman. of Alliance, had trans
ferred a fortune of seven millions
again the big figures-to an Italian
named Peter Parugia, and had gone
to work for the Columbia Elevator Co.,
of Alliance. at $50 day.
Yesterday reporter for the Register
called upon Father McCaffery and ask
ed for some explanation OF the mys-
terv. but the only statement the gen.
tleman would make was that the In
felligencer should have made more
careful investigation before it publish
cd the story it did" Nothing more
could be elected.
The motive for disseminating such
matter is difficult to guess. and the
whole affair is wrapped in mystery.