AN AUDACIOUS IMPOSTOR.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4738, 8 January 1890, Page 3

AN AUDACIOUS IMPOSTOR.

MELBOURNE, Jan. 2. Ths London correspondent of tho Argus roports that Dr Murray, Roman Catholio Bishop of Maitlnnd, N._.W., had an unpleasant ndvonture m Romo. At tbo Minerva Hotol, tho headquarters of Englißh-opeaking visitors to that city, ho mado the acquaintance of a young ahd handsome ccclosinstic rejoicing m tbo aristocrntio titlo of Monsignorn lo Prince Delatour D'Auvorgno, Domestic Prelate to his Holineßa tbo Popo." Thoy oppear to have bocomo remarkably friendly, and tho Australian Bishop novor outortuincd the remotest euspicion that his charming companion was any othor than ho reprenonlod inmsolf to be, but ono moruing as thoy wero walking togotber m tbo vicinity of tho Propaganda nn ogont of tbo police approached, and to tho horror of tho Bishop of Maitland nrrcßtod Monaignpro, and marchpd him off to priaori. Thoro ho made full coofesiion of hjs daring iqippstii'rpi ond dofilarod, lhp r t hia r.ot\l namo was Michnol Hallins, tho son of poor peoplo at Muuvillo, Eranco. As a student for tho priesthood bo «u3 sout tn tbo Oollcgo of the Trappial Fathers at Vorlugos, and them, by moaua of falso koys, ho suncoedod m eloaling 2600 florins from thu treasury of that Institution, bcsulon a gold watoh nud chain, nnd othor uncoiifMorod trillcu. Then lie ilod f IVJifrepiUen and nßmunod Ijia present, slyjb and title, und witii ruckleus audacity proiioedpd ti> Romo and ruin After n judicial oznminalloii ho wns Tolnrii?d 1" his coll, and n few hours aftcrwrirds the warder pn duty found him do.rd, strangled hy his Own bands. Ho was only twenty-two yeursof

ago, but be acted his assumed part so well as to completely deceive Soman ecclesiastics of high rank m addition to un Australian Prelato. No mora audacious imposture has beon discovered m Home since Sam Bishop was detected and ignominiously turned out of tho Vatican Council m 1870.