Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-31
MY S()E TIE PRIEST
Member of the Catholic Church
at Webster City Demands
an Apology
ALLEGED LlRELous uTTERANcEs
Father o'Rrien Said to Have Declared
in Sermon That X. E. Lyons Gave
Only is Cents to the Collection for the
seminary--Matter Taken Before
Archbishop keane at Dubuque.
ALLEGED LIeELous uTTERANcEs

Special to Times Republican.
Webster City, Dec. 31.-The Rev. Fa>
ther T. f. o'Brien, pastor of st. Thomas
Acquinas Catholic church of this city,
has laid himself liable to a storm of in
Gignation from certain of his parishion-
ers owing to some remarks he made
from the altar In one of his Christmas
day masses. BY reason of these re-
marks K. Z. Lyons, member of the
church and congregation, claims to
have been DETAINED. naaligned and SLAM
Idered. Lyons alleges that the priest in
his sermon took occasion to say that
man in the congregation had contribu-
tied but Is cents to the collection. for
the seminary. That at the conclusion of
the sermon Father O'Brien intimated
to him (Iyons) that he was the one to
whom he referred and made no Sc
crecy of this fact among others of the
congregation. Mr.. Lyons denies these
allegations and says that ha contribu-
ted SO cents. He further says that he
has been libeled by the fathers re-
marks, that he asked him to retraet and
that he refused. Mr.. Lyons will bring
the matter before Archbishop Keane at
Dubuque and may bring suit against
Father O,Brien. For this purpose he has
made sworn statement of the mat
ter as follows:
state of Iowa, Hamilton County, SIS.
81, X. Il. Lyons, first being duly sworn
upon oath, state that am resident OF
Hamilton county, Iowa: that am a
member of the Roman Catholic church
and a member of the congregation at
Webster City, Iowa; that was present
at mass on Christmas day, 1902, when
collection was taken up for the benefit
of the seminary; that the pastor after
taking up the collection announced
from the altar that there was one In the
CONGREGATION who contributed but 10
cents to the collection, and DETAINED and
maligned the person without at that
time mentioning his name, but after
wards this deponent was informed that,
he CHR. Lyons is the person referred to
by the pastor In said remarks; that
Your deponent afterwards asked the
said pastor to take back the slanderous
words, but he refused to do SO. but
stated that this deponent is the person
to whom he had referred in said SLAM
derous remarks. Your deponent fur
ther states that he contributed to said
collection freely for the purpose for
which the collection was taken, the
sum contributed being 35 cents, a 20
cent piece and lo-cent piece. All OF
which is correct and true as verify be-
lieve. Is. II. L1osS.
..Subscribed and sworn to before me
by the aforesaid K. 2. Lyons on the
2sth day OF December. 1902.
&c. D. THOMPSON,
Notary Public"
The congregation is very much
wrought up over the affair. Rev.
O'Brien is popular among the congrega-
ton, but 1t is feared that breach-at
least in certain quarters-will be made
|by Mr.. Lyons sensational charges.
Mr. Lyons is farmer, residing near
this city, and is of Irish extraction. He
feels deeply wronged and proposes to
carry the matter to the end. He will
first lay his affidavit before Archbishop
Keane. Whether or not libel suit will
then be brought will depend upon this
officials action In the matter. Many
Catholics look for bitter fight, while
the best of them hope for an annie able
settlement, which at this time does not
look very probable.