A Sensation that Failed

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 18

A Sensation that Failed

The Sydney ' E\ening News ' recently lapsed into temporary forgetfulnp&s of Billings's cautious maxim :

' When you find a mare's nest, be sure that the old mare is in it.' It found a mare's nest and announced the discovery with a triple scream : ' A Mysterious Inquiry Humored Death ot a Priest. Information refusod to the Press." And then followed a startling account of a mysterious death of a ptiest by suicide at Marrick\ilk\ The sequel is briefly told by the ' Catholic Press' of -luly 2 'The morning papers,' says our \ alued Sydney contemporary, 'were more guarded. They spok,e of a mysterious death, and said nothing more, but this rather confirmed the report of the " Evening News." However, that paper next day came out with the following, but not with the prominence they gave to the original repoit : " We learn that the report that the subject of the inquiry as a priest or theological student was unfounded, and we regret having giving publicity to the rumor which was in persistent circulation in tho district. Even up to the present the facts of the case are unobtainable. But all inquiries show that the supposed suicide was not a priest." We understand that before the contradiction appeared legal proceedings were being taken by the priests of Marrickville. For the death in question was not that of a priest or of a theological student. The deceased was not even a Catholic. He was a Protestant, and he was in no way connected with any Catholic institution. It is likely,

however, that the first " News " fabrication wall be repeated in other States, and in other parts of the world in order to confuse Catholics. The contradiction may be ignored.'