Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-17
TALE OF PRIESTS
FORTUNE A MYTH
Father FarreIly, Who Had Rela.
tives in Newark, Left
Only $4,000.

The large fortune supposed to have
been possessed by the late Rev. Pat
rick J. Farrelly, rector of ST. Brigid's
Church, Brooklyn, turns out to have
been a myth. Father Farrelly was a
brother of Mrs. Elizabeth McDermit.
of % Stirling street, step-mother of
Frank M. McDermit, the lawyer.
Rev. James H Lynch, rector of the
Church of st. Martin of Tours, of
Brooklyn, who was Father Farrelly's
most intimate friend, yesterday issued
a statement that shows that Father
Farrelly's estate. including an insur-
ance policy for $4,000, amounts to only
81, 900. The insurance, which at first
was reported to be $4,000, was left to
Miss Kate Maggie, who had been
Father Farrelly's faithful house.
keeper for nineteen years.
The priest bequeathed to his
nephew, George McDermit, of New
ark, the sum of $500 and his gold
watch. He states in his will that he
leaves nothing to his other relatives,
as he had received no favors at their
hands.
Father Farrelly was supposed to
have received a large fortune from
dying soldier inSouth Africa when the
priest was in that country. He also
was supposed to have collection or
diamonds.
well-known Here.
The Brooklyn priest was well known
in Newark He first OBLIGATED in this
country at st. Bridget's Church here
Regarding the stories about the
dead priest, Father Lynch says:
IF anything is left after paying the
debts and funeral expenses 1 will use
it in a manner that would have
pleased Father Farrelly. This small
esate was left by Father Farrelly
after a priesthood of forty-six years,
because his purse was always open to
the poor. He paid their rent. bought
their coal and provisions and paid
their funeral expenses, even buying
cemetery lots for them. His only In
come was his salary, and the poor
profited by that. The single diamond
he brought from Africa he gave to
friend many years ago."
Nothing could be more distasteful
to Father Farrelly than to have his
private affairs ventilated in the public
press. However, when the loveable
aaracter of a good priest Is distorte'
by false statements it is the duty OF
his friends to make corrections
"Stories published in the daily |
papers for the past few days picture
Father Farrelly as a money grabber,
of the exalted dignity OF
the Catholic priesthood, whereas We
knew him as a model priest, who, like |
the Divine Master, despised the goods
of this world"
Text of will.
Following is the full text of Father
will:
"I, Rev. Patrick ]. Farrelly, rector
of ST. Bridget's r. c. Church, Brook
Ign, n. Y, do hereby make and pub
fish this to be my last will and tesla
ment, revoking all former wills by
me at any time made.
First order and direct the pay
ment of my debts and funeral ex-
penses as soon as conveniently may
be done after my decease.
"Second-I give and bequeath to my
faithful housekeeper, Kate Maggie, the
of my insurance policy, name
ly $4,000 1.-TWO thousand dollars. NO.
of policy 140,770, the Phoenix Life In
Company. of Hartford, Conn. |
"Third-I give and bequeth to my
George McDermit, the sum |
u POOO NuN0 ldiAbl dOioi ~ dho A's |
gold watch and chain, as token of
and good will. AS am in
no way indebted to my other relatives
and have received no favors at their
hands, I leave them nothing.
FOURTH give and bequeath to |
Rev. James H. Lynch, of the diocese
of Brooklyn, the balance of my prop |
erty of whatsoever kind or whereso- |
ever situated.
''Fifth--I appoint Rev. James H.
Lynch executor of this, my last will
and testament.
sixth declare this to be my last
will and testament, written on one
sheet of paper and in my own hand |
writing, signing the same with my
name in Brooklyn, N. Y, this 4th day |
of December, 1908.
PATRICK J. FARRELLY."
Signed by the said testator, Patrick
J. Farrelly, as for his last will and
testament, in the presence as wit
nesses of us, who at his request and
in his presence and in presence of
each other subscribe our names as
witnesses on the day and year above
written.
PATRICK J. KELLY,
419 Linden street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
NORA FLEMING,
419 Linden street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
A ~0nossfsrof Corsa4xy ss4