The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-04
PROFESSOR BRINGS. SERIOUS CHARGES. AGAINST MERCHANT.
University Teacher Claims Wealthy Man Is Father of Wife'S Child-Black-
 mail Alleged
 By AssocIated Press

South Bend, Ind. September B. Harry Poulin, wealthy clothing mer- chant, was released from jail today on bond after having been arrested yesterdaY on abarges made. by. Rrof. John F TfernAn sf the law school at the University of Notre Dame, who accused Poulin of being the father of child born to Mrs. Tiernan in November, 1921. Professor Tiernan announced a flight would be made to make Poulin own and support the child. Poulin denied the charge against him and ac- eused the university professor of blackmail
 T am innocent of the slanderous charge" Poulin, who is the father of | two children, declared. This is case of blackmail which has been in prog ress for eight months. As soon as the child wAs born, Herman approch- ed me with a demand for money with which to pay the medical fee in con- nection with the birth of Mrs. Tier mans child
 This 1 naturally refused to do. for the reason that am not the father Later, Herman, through an attorney, offered to settle the case on payment of a lump sum. offering to then drop the matter without forcing me to make any admissions. l certainly will fight"
 Was Trusted Friend.
 Harry Poulin was my trusted friend, said Professor Tiernan, who like Poulin, is the father of two chil- dren. He partook of my hospitality and enjoyed my confidence. I be- lieve he enjoyed the respect of the community. After l have obtained a monetary settlement for this child. I shall use my best efforts as citizen to have him expelled from the com munity.
 'He inveigled my wife originally into the intimacies by telling her that his wife was suffering from tubercu- losis and that she would soon die, leaving him free to marry. On these assurances that he would do so she yielded to him.
 "The case is not only established by Poulins confession to me, but by the testimoy of Poulin's neighbors. who saw these things through the window. I shall subpoena all of Poulin's friends. There will be noth- ing suppressed but all will be thresh- ed out publicly. Before l consented to this proceeding I sought the ad- vice of the Catholic church and l was assured that my conduct in proceed ing this way was entirely proper, since every appeal to MT. Poulin's sense of moral obligation failed to find an answerl'
 Lived With Wife
 Poulin in his answer to Professor Herman, charged that his arrest was due to "the disordered state of the legal instructors mind citing the fact that Tiernan continued to live with his wife after he knew of the alleged misdeed.
 There is no law court in the coun- try which would sustain Tiernan's action nor are there any fair-minded persons who will fail to perceive the absurdity of his charges" declared Poulin. Two or three weeks ago Tiernan. through trickery, obtained the signature of his wife, then almost hysterical, through his continued ef- forts to make her admit guilt. to an affidavit. charging me with being the father of her boy"
 According to Poulin his friendship with the Tfernans dates back several years. but he maintains that at no time has he been particularly friendly with the professors wife. He said that both he and his wife have known of Tiernan's attitude for some time and Fave been prepared for 1t.
 Because of the social prominence of the parties involved, the case has caused a sensation in university cir cles and throughout the city.