Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1903 — Father Conroy Needs Pistol Practice. [ARTICLE]

Father Conroy Needs Pistol Practice.

Evidently Rev Thomas Conroy a former well known and very popular student at St Joseph’s College did not while here make target practice, with a pistol a very prominent part of bis education, or he would be able to shoot straighter, now. As per the following account concerningtriminwhich though his spirit was willing his aim was wobbly: Anderson, Ind., February 21. The Rev, Thomas Conroy, assistant pastor of the Catholic church, engaged in a shooting match with a burglar in the parochial residence at 1 o’clock this morning, The priest was uninjured, and it is thought the robber escaped all the bullets. There were six shots exchanged, four by the priest and two by the burglar. Father Conroy has been acting as treasurer of the Catholic church fair this week, and it is thought the burglar intended to rob the priest of the cash receipts of the fair. After the priest went to the second floor of his home, he heard a noise on the first floor. With a gun in his hand he went down stairs and saw a man. The robber commanded the priest to throw up bis hands, at the same time firing hie revolver. Father Conroy fired four times at the robber, who ran into the hall and and shot again at the priest, and then made his escape through the dining-room door. Father Conroy was alone when be had the encounter.