A SAD AFFA'R.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5026, 8 October 1887, Page 4

A SAD AFFA'R.

Melbourne, So, tember 17. Mr Pateick slaman, :•.:• u-daud highly respected draper, cf . eniliquin, died there* on Tuesday night under very painful circumstauces. - On Tuesday evening, SSlaman, who was in good health aud spirits, received at about sis o'clock au auouyinous letter by post convt-yieg to him the intelligence that hia eidetii daughter, a girl about 20 years of age, was enciente, and that a certain Boniau Catholic priest, who bad lately left Deniliquin, was her seducer aud the father ot the child. The letter came like a a thunderclap to Slaman, as ifc was the first intimation that lie had received of the unfortunate affair. He immediately interviewed his family; and his daughter confessed that the statement in the letter was true. Slaman then became fearfully excited, and went out to an hotel, where he had some brandy. He returned shortly afterwards with some of the spirits in a lemonade bottle, which he swallowed in the presence of his daughter. The deceased then wished his fatrily good bye, and left his home in a very excited state. He then went to several hotels, where he had more liquor, and stated that he was going on a long journey. He afterwards arrived at the Terminus Hotel where he was refused liquor, but going behind the bar, be swallowed some brandy out of a decanter. He then became very violent and excited, and shortly after■wards he fell down in the verandah where he died about an hour afterwards, his last words being with reference to his daughter. On the following day an inquest was held when the jury-returned a verdict that death was caused by by sanguineous apoplexy, accelerated by mental excitement and alcoholic stimulants. Very little was elicited respecting the cause of the deceased's excitement and excessive drinking on the night of his death. The anonymous letter was demanded by the jury, and, afier much difficulty, produced, and also another letter, evidently wiitten by the deceaeed with reference to his daughter and the priest. Bince the enquiry the deceased's daughter has stated that the priest seduced her by means of the administration of drugs, and that he afterwards compelled her to submit to him. A day or two prior to the death of Slaman the priest who has. since left the church, wrote to the girl,, and asked her to marry him, enclosing money to pay her travelling expenses to Melbourne. The priest left about three months ago, when a testimonial and a purse of 150 sovereigns wan presented ro him, Slaman, who was a leading man in the Boman Catholic Church, being the prime mover in the testimonial, and also the principal Bubfccriber. The priest stated when he left her that H was his intension to visit Ireland on a 12 months' leave of absence, but he is believed to be still in Melbourne, and is said to be in disguise, and under an assumed ame.— New Zealand Herald/