SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A PRIEST.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 139, 9 March 1877, Page 3

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A PRIEST.

The Rev. Joseph Daly, the Catholic priest of Runcorn, who recently figured conspicuously in the Manchester poisoning case, was taken before Sir Richard Brook, at Runcorn, for examination on a most extraordinary charge of theft. The inquiry, which lasted several hours, occasioned considerable interest, and in consequence of the excitement which prevailed amongst the Catholics of the neighbourhood, the: evidence was taken with closed doors. Mr Marshall, who was instructed by Mr W. H. Linaker,

solicitor, appeared for the defence. The amount said to have been stolen was some Ll2 or Ll4, the prosecutor being Mr Wm. Hailwood, provision merchant, of High-street, Runeorm It was shown that Father Daly dined and supped with prosecutor's daughter, the prosecutor being away from home throughout the day. The shop, which is approached from the house through a door in the passage, was closed and locked, as usual, at night, and the following morning the drawers were found to have been forced and the money taken through the day purloined. The principal testimony against the prisoner was that given by Miss Hailwood, an in-teresting-looking- and very fashionablydressed young lady about 19 years of age, and this was of a most extraordinary character. Having deposed to the fact that during the evening she allowed the seivants to go out, at the prisoner's suggestion, Miss Hailwood said that during the supper the prisoner asked her if she thought the man had left the money in the shop. She said she thought so, and then tbe prisoner said, " We will try," and asked her to obtain the key of the drawing-room, which was known to open the passage door leading into r the shop. She obtained the key, and having lighted a taper, she proceeded to open the door, and both in company entered the shop. Witness continued — He then asked me to show him where tbe money drawer was, and I pointed it out to him, I pulled at the drawer while he tried to force it open with a large bread knife which he took from the counter. He found the knife was not strong enough for the purpose, and at his suggestion I went to another drawer and obtained a large nail, and with this and my assistance he forced open the drawer, and exposed two paper parcels containing gold and silver. The Clerk-— What became of the money? Witness — He took it up, and put it in his pocket. The Clerk — What became of the paper in which the money was wrapped ? I burnt it in the grate in the sit-ting-room. Of your own accord ? No ; Father Dalv told me to do so. Was

there anything else in the same drawer ? Yes, the key of the till containing the copper. The prisoner asked me what this was for, and when I told him, he said, " Then we will look in and see what there is there." Having opened this drawer, the prisoner asked me to i take it into the sitting-room, which J | did, and I then held a paper bag while j the prisoner emptied the contents of the j till into it. Tbis bag the prisoner put into his coat pocket. The Clerk — Had there been any conversation between you as to money before he asked you if you thought there was money in the shop? Yes; he said he wanted some money to pay some bills, in order that he might send the receipts to the bishop. At any time prior to this had there been a conversation between you about money '( Yes, once or twice. About a fortnight ago he asked me if I could get him some money, and I said " I don't know." Once the prisoner was in father's bedroom, and, rsferring to the safe in which my father kept bis money, he made the remark — "It seems a very strong one." The Clerk — Whydid you not speak about this ? Because Father Daly told me not to do so. | What did you do with the key afteryou left the shop 1 I took it back to the drawing-room. I did not lock the shop door again. The Clerk — Why not 1 Because Father Daly told me it would be better to leave it open. 1 also unfastened the scullery window. The Clerk — Why ? Becau.se the prisoner told me it would be well to open the back door, and because I could not do this, as my brother went last to bed. The Clerk— Did be say why ? Yes ; he said that some one would then be suspected of entering by the back of the house. After the money was taken the prisoner remained with me until the servants returned ; and then he mixed himself a glass of brandy and water, and left. I saw him tho following morning as he was leaving his own house, and I accompanied him to the station) as he said he was going to Liverpool. Nothings was then said about the robbery. The same evening he called at the house again, and upon my brother referring to the robbery, the prisoner said, "Well, I suppose 1 shall be suspected. When a poor fellow once gets into trouble he's always liable to be suspected." When charged with the offence, the prisoner said, " I was at the house that night, but I did not steal any money." Sir Richard Brook intimated that he could net think of admitting the prisoner to bail, and at once"-, bound over the various witnesses to give evidence on the trial, which will take place at the Knutsford Sessions, which open .on the 3rd of January.— - Liverpool Courier.