The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-02-22
FATHER COLLINS
sues MEMBER OF
CONGREGATION
Says He Was Charged With
EmbezzIing Church Funds
By Thos. Rafferty,
ASKS $4,000 DAMAGES
FOR CHARACTER STAIN
Charges Were Made at Church
Meeting in Jackson
Last Fall.

A suit for $1,000 damages was yes
terday filed in the Common Pleas
Court by Rev. VI. D. Collins, pastor of
the immaculate Conception Church in
Jackson, against Thomas Rafferty,. of
the same city, who is one of his par
lshioners. The suit grew out of a con-
troversy between Rafferty, and Father
Collins last November when, accord
ing to the petition, the latter was ac-
cused Of having misappropriated some
funds of the Catholic Church in St.
Mary's Mo-, eight years ago:
The petition also charges that Raj
ferty, during the meeting last No
vember, made ambiguous charges
against Father Collins concerning the
management of the church funds in
Jackson. These insinuations were made
at parish meeting. at which some
improvements OF the church grounds
were discussed.
Father Collins was placed in charge
of the parish in jackson eight years
age. He was formerly pastor in St.
Mays. While there, he said. he had
some difficulty in keeping up the i'm
provemcnts of the Catholic Cemetery.
especially after it had been separated
from the City Cemetery, and had
use some Of the money Of the church
fund for this purpose.
NOT wanting to burden the parish
toner's too heavily with this expense. he
even paid for improvements out Of HI,
private funds, he said. He could not
understand how Rafferty, could make
such charges against him, he Informed
The Tribune last night.
The controyesy began when Father
Collins suggested the improvements at
the church and the parsonage in Jack
son last fall. A large number Of the
men belonging TO tho Immaculate Con-
ccpti0n Churc1 attended the Meeting
in which Father Collins suggested the
improvement and also asked that they
be betrayed by popular subscription
made up by the members of his parish.
Rafferty, made strenuous objections
to the suggestions Of Father Collins,
and according to the petition, insinuat-
ed th-t the priest twas trying to put
one over"
Attorney Wilson Cramer Of Jack
son. intercedcd and made an attempt
to settle the differences between thu
priest and the Iayman. He drafted ar
apology which he gave Rafferty, 10
sign and asked him to submit the
document to Father Collins.
After fruitIess efforts he broke Of
his relations with Rafferty, and at the
request Of Father Collins drew up the
petition for damages. According to-
Judge Cramer. Rev. Collins is anxious
to vindicate himself for the alleged
SANDER committed against him. as the
charge were wholly untrue and un-
founded.
Mr.. Rafferty, refused to discuss the
matter with a reporter for The Trib-
une last night. He said he was not /
at this time prepared to make a state
ment. When asked whether he had
been requested to apologize, he re-
piled he did not care to say anything
regarding this matter for the present,
Mr.. Rafferty, is employed by the
Dan Klein Saddlery Co., in Jackson,
where he has worked for years. H
has been member Of the Immaculate
Conception parish all his life. He has
a large family.
Father Collins is well known !
throughout Missouri as writer and |
especially a public speaker. He IS |
much sought after as a lecturer on
public questions.