The north Mississippi herald., 1923-09-07
FATHER DOHERTY
CHARGED WITH
HEINOUS CRIME
Former Water Valley Priest
Released From Asvlunn In
der $500 Bond By Order
of Court, Must Stand Trial

e' MUST Stand Trial.
Rev. George A. Doherty, e2. Cath
one priest of Brookhaven. was
thursday released from the STATE tn
sane Hospital and placed under bond
OF 300 for his appearance at
tne Lincoln County circuit court ON
mondav morning when he will an
swer the charges against him for an
alleged crime against nature 4,
winch negro boy, age 12 is sa,d
70 have been implicated.
Rev. Dogherty was brought 70
jackson for safe keeping on last
saturday, due to the feeling which
was running high against rim -.
brookhaven. by Sheriff R. c. Ap-
plewhite. On arriving at Jackson
friends of Father Dogherty mad
bond for him In the sum Of $500
Inis done, 1t is understood, some
OF the relatives Of the priest asked
that he be tried by a sanity iurv
ne was committed to the insane
hospital where he still was at a late
hour last night, though he was free
to go where he pleased.
In a letter from Supt. C n
Mitchell, M. D., Of the Insane Hos
pitai, to Sheriff Applewhite, under
date Of September s, it was stated
tnat 1t would be unfair to make the
accused go to court. The letter fol.
lows in part:
I'm accordance with our apree-
ment Of Saturday, the mental con-
dition Of Rev. George. A. Doghertv
OF Brookhaven was considered this
morning by full staff of phvsi-
Gains and it was the consensus of
opinion that If the facts as related
by the negro boy were true that in
view of the present mental condition
OF the patient, he was irresponsible
at the time and I feel it would be
unfair to him if he were compelled
to go before the court at this time
He shows considerable deteriora-
tion in the emotional field and also
tne field of memory shows
marked tremor of muscular efforts
and with his admission that he NAV
have indulged in alcoholic beverages
previously, we feel that the incipient
mental disease may be an indication
OF beginning senility. If, however
ne shows any evidence of improve
ment to the point where he could
probably be indicted, I will notify
you at once, unless you wish the
case disposed of in some other way"
Rev. Dogherty was on Wednesday
indicted by the grand jury of Lin
coin county on the charge preferred
against him, and it was on presen-
tation of capias to the local sher-
iff's Office that the man was re-
arrested and placed under bond of
$4,000 more than he was originally
held under.
The district attorney and circuit
judge of that county want the trial
of the priest as soon as possible, ac-
cording to Sheriff Applewhite.
Following Is in part what the
Semi-Weekly Ledger, a Brookhaven
newspaper had to say about the
affair:
"Shaken from center to circum-
ference" only mildly expresses the
surprise and shock experienced last
Saturday by our population in the
arrest of Rev. Father Geo. A. Dogh-
erty, pastor Of st. Francis church
at this place on charge Of ga crime
the priests home just after midnight
against nature" which was made at
In which a policeman, three young
men of the city. another young man
from Missouri, newcomer to this
city, and young negro boy and the
priest were all concerned.
"The affidavit and arrest came
last Saturday following an investi-
cation by officers of the reports as
they gradually gained momentum,
and emanating from those who said
they had witnessed the alleged
scenes Of the priests home in
the early morning hour and were