#fake priests

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“SUSPECTS ARRESTED,” Montreal Gazette. February 8, 1933. Page 18. --- Three "Seminarians" Charged With False Pretences ---- Wearing the regulation cassock of the seminarian, three men were arrested yesterday afternoon by Sergeant-Detectives Page and P. Gauthier on charges of false pretences arising out of the sale of tickets for entertainments, drawings and other events supposed to aid missionary work or the poor. 

Two of the three men were unfrocked by the detectives but one was forced to keep his cassock on as he wore little clothing beneath. 

Acting upon information the detectives learned that the men were selling tickets for a dance which was to take place at the Garneau School on February 23 next in aid of poor seminarists who had disappeared. There were also tickets for a playlet entitled "Hell Versus the Altar," which was to take place at the Monument National on October 1, at 2.30 o'clock, though the tickets did not reveal in what year this entertainment was to take place. There were tickets for drawings of boxes of chocolates. Three large bosses of tickets were found in the rooms of the accused. 

At headquarters they admitted to Inspector Foucault that they were no longer students at any seminary, though they had at one time been in such institutions. The prisoners, who were arrested in their rooms, gave their names and addresses as Joseph Hormisdas Corbeil, 34 years of age, rooming on Delanaudiere street; Simon Dumas, 39 years of age, and Mendoza Richard, 42 years of age, both rooming on Notre Dame street east.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Bogus Priest Gets Ten 5-Year Terms,” Montreal Star, November 3, 1932. Page 03. “James Carson Will Serve All Sentences Concurrently. James Carson, alias Carter, alias Callaghan, bogus priest, who, as ‘Father’ James Callaghan, garbed in cassock and clerical hat, pleaded guilty to 10 charges embracing passing of forged cheques and securing or attempting to secure merchandise involving in all $42,814, was this morning sentenced to five years in St. Vincent De Paul Penitentiary on each charge by Judge Tetreau.  The sentences will run concurrently. Carson had little to say beyond making a request that the time he has already spent in jail be included in his sentence.  His wish was denied and he left the dock without demonstration.   In passing sentence, Judge Tetreau reprimanded the accused for treating his arrest and record with levity, which, however, Carson denied.

Bad Record. “You have a bad record,” said His Honor, “and the one redeeming feature about you seems to be that you fought in the war.  I have, however, no sympathy for you.”  “Carson, you have played a despicable game.  Under the guise of priesthood you have tried to hide your identity.  You also used a name which is an honored one here.” The accused interrupted to delcare that he had no idea that there was ever a priest named Callaghan in Montreal. “I did not assume the name on that account,” he said, “although I admit the charges against me are true.” After reviewing Carson’s record and noting that at least 20 additional charges against him had been dropped by the police, Judge Tetreau sentenced him.”