SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A PRIEST.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2552, 12 March 1877, Page 3

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A PRIEST.

(jEOM TUB STVfiRPOOIi OTTBIER.)

The Rev; Joseph Dply, the Catholic priest of Runcorn, who recently figured conspicuously in the Manchester poison case, was taken before Sir Richard Brook" at Runcorn, for examination on an extra--ordinary charge of theft. The inquiry, 1 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 witu closed doori. Mr Marshall, who was instruct 3d by Mr W. H. Linaker, solicitor, appeared %■ the defence. The amount said to have been stolen was .some. £12 or £14, the* prosecutor being Mr WiHiam Haihvood, provision merchant, of High Street, Kuncorn. It was shown that on Tuesday last Father Daly dined- and supped with prosecutor's daughter, the prosecutor .being away from home throughout the day. The shop, winch is approached from the house 'through a door ;n the passage, was closed and locked, as usual, at night, and the following Morning the drawers were found to have been forced, and the.mon.ey taken through the day purloined. The principal testiEaony against the prisoner was that given by Miss Hailwood.an interestinglooking and fashionably-dressed 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 servants 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 the Srisoner said; " We will try,' and asked er to obtain thes key of the drawir.g-room, Which was' known to open .the passage door leading into, 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 the money drawer was, and I Sointed it out to him. I pulled at the rawer while he tried to force it open with va'-.; large bread knife which he toot from the counter. He found the knife was not strong enough for the purpose, and at his suggestion I went to another draw 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 P Witness—He took it up, and put it in bis pocket. The Clerk—What became ef the paper in which .the money was wrapped ? I burnt it in i/he grate in the siting room. Of you** own accord P. No •• Father Daly told me to do so. Was there anything else in the same drawer P Yes,-the,kev of the tiU containing, the copper; 1 The' prisoner asked me what this was for, and when I fjld him", he said, "Then we,wsU look in and see what' there is there." Having opened this drawer, the prisoner asked me to take it into the sitting 'rc'jm, which I did, and I then held a paper bag while the prisoner emptied the contents of the till into it. This bag the prisoner put Hto his coat pocket. The Clerk—Had there been any conversation between you as" to money before he asked you i f you thought there was money in the shop P Yes; he said he wanted some money to pay some bills, in order that he might send |h.e,roeeipts~ to the bishon. At any time prior to this had there been a conversation between^ y^ about money? Yes, once or twice. About a fortnight ago he asked me; if I could get him some moneys and I said "I don't know." Once the prisoner was"in my father's bedroom, and, referring to the sfe. ia which my father kept his money, he made the remark— "It seeing a very strong one." The Clerk—Why did.you not speak about, this? Because Father Daly told me not ip do 80. What did you do with,the key after you left the shop P, I took it back to the drawing-room. I did not lock the step door again. The Clerk-~Why not ? Because, Father Daly told me it would be better to leave it: open. I tho unfastened the scullery window- The Clerk^Why ? Witness-r-Because 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 ClerkDid he s.ay why ? Yes;' he said that gome one woilld thei^ be suspected of entering by'-thebapk of tjie;house. -After the money;'was taken the prisoner remained with _me uu til the servants retamed ; and then he mixed himself a glass of ;brchdy and water, and left. I saw^him the following morning as he was leaving hii own house, and I accompanied him tofthe- station, as he said he was gobag...to liiverpoo}.. JSTothing was then saiii about the robbery. The same evening he called at the house again, and upon my referring to the robbery, the prisoner said, ." Well, I suppose I .shall DB.suspected. When a poor fellow once gets 1 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 jmoney."!;' Sir Richard Brook iniimated Mp'oujd not think of admitting the prisoner to bail, and at once bound over the.Tarious witnesses to give evidence on thei'trial, which will, take place at the Knntsford Sessions, which, open on the 3rd of January;