Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-03
Catholic Priest Defendant In
IA Sensational Suit at
Mason City
aE ACTIONS ALLEGED
ST RANG
Controversy Growing Out Of An Effort
to Build New Church Results in
Stirring Episodss-vicar General Ry-
ans Name Figures In tho Case
Plaintiffs Ask For $1,000 Damages.
;pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-RepubMcan.
Mason City, Nov. 3.--Two sensa-
tional cases filed in the district court
in which Father j. j. Clune assistant
pastor Of the Sacred Heart Catholic
church of Rockwell is made defendant
and Daniel Catalan, a member of the
church and chairman of the finance
committee for the erection Of q new
church building, and minor son of
Mr.. Catalan, George Catalan, are the
plaintiffs. The plaintiffs allege SLAM
der and assault and ask for damages
aggregating a little over $4,000.
The trouble is alleged to be the out
growth OF a visit on the part of the
members of the finance committee to
the home of Father Ryan, of Dubuque,
vicar general Of this diocese, in which
complaint was lodged with the vicar
to the effect that the pastors, Fathers
Burns and Clune, We're planning on
the erection Of a church building in
size and cost beyond the ability of the
congregation. AS result of the visit
of the committee to Father Ryan, the
following letter was received by Fa-
ther Burns, the pastor at Rockwell:
Rev. Burns, Rockwell, Iowa. Dear
Father: Some members of your con-
gregation have called here and ex-
planned that you intend to build
church beyond the means of the con-
gregation. You will not proceed with
the matter any further until there is
an understanding between yourself
and the congregation and the author
itives here as to the amount of debt
to be incurred. "R. RYAN,
Vicar General"
When this letter was received Fa-
Their Burns was absent from home, so
it fell into the hands of Father Clune.
On the following Sunday, October IA.
he announced that the men would re-
main after the congregation had been
at which time he brought up the mat
ter to which the letter referred. The
plaintiffs set forth in their allegation
that Father Clune became violent, ac-
cused the plaintiff Of forging the let
ter and in the presence of the men of
the church called the committee who
is composed of Messrs. Catalan, Nc
Carthy, Clark and Scholl, liars, ours.
hypocrits, pups" and other names;
that the said letter was poorly writ
ten, ungrammatical tricky, unfit to be
read" thereby conveying the impress
sion that the plaintiff was ignorant
irreverent and false to his trust"
1t is further alleged that the pastor
advanced toward the committee where
he attempted to assault the plaintiff.
taking off his coat and rolled up his
sleeves" reiterating the charge of liars
and pups, and finally in climax
waved a roll Of bills, declaring he
would whip the committee and would
pay his fine.
on the following Monday, october
is, 1T is alleged the defendant met the
minor son Of Mr.. Callahan, that he as
saulted him destroying several school
books, writing paper, etc., which the
boy had in his possession, which books
had been purchased by the plaintiff for
his son. The list attached is as fol-
lows: Barnes geography, SIPS;
Welsh arithmetic, s1.25; 1 McMas-
ter's history, $1.25; Reed & Kellogg
grammar, 40 cents;s1 spelling book, 40
cents; / catechism, 40 cents, l die
tionary, 40 cents; composition books.
40 cents; stationery, ETC., making a to-
tai of $6.25.
For the assault on George Catalan
the plaintiff asks damages amounting
to $500. For the alleged accusation Of
"liars, ours" etc., the plaintiff asks ac-
tual damages Of 500. exemplary dam
ages of 5000. For the attempted as
sault exemplary damages are asked Of
$1,000. For the alleged assault on his
son, the plaintiff asks actual damage
of $500 and exemplary damage of ST.