“Did A Priest Kill A Female Parishioner?”
©2003 by Paschal Ryan
It was a very hot night in the desert town of Lost Wages, Nevada. Father Ryan had just locked up his Church Of The Flaming Sword for the night after putting the proceeds of the night’s bingo into the night vault of the local bank.
Next morning the police arrived and took Father Ryan into custody for the murder of Elaine Stockton, who was in charge of running the bingo at her parish church. Elaine was loved by so many in the parish for her volunteer work, and the city of Last Wages was shocked at the news of her death. The fact that Fr Ryan was charged even shocked the city more as Fr Ryan was also loved by his parishioners.
It was Detective Southward who made the arrest. Robin, the church secretary was in tears as Fr Ryan was led away in handcuffs. “Not to worry, Robin, God is on my side,” Fr Ryan said as he was led away.
The word spread throughout the Parish that Fr Ryan had been trying to push himself on Elaine for some time, but she kept giving him the cold shoulder. Elaine’s husband wasn’t aware of Fr Ryan’s intentions towards his wife. He loved Fr Ryan. It was Fr Ryan who married them some ten years earlier.
The lead detective, Kitson Southward, learned that young Tommy Stockton, for a seven year old, was well aware of what Fr Ryan was trying to do to his mother. It seemed that while preparing for his First Communion, Fr Ryan got mad at him. During the preparation, Fr Ryan asked the class if they knew who knocked down the walls of Jericho. When Fr Ryan pressed Tommy for an answer, the terrified Tommy blurted out: “I didn’t do it.”
Fr Ryan couldn’t believe young Tommy’s answer, so he insisted on Tommy bringing his mother with him the next day.
“What is the problem with my Tommy, Father?” Elaine said to Fr Ryan, the next day.
”Elaine, my dear, Yesterday I asked your Tommy who it was that knocked down the Walls of Jericho. What do you think he said?”
“I am all ears, Father,” Elaine answered.
“Tommy said he didn’t do it,” Fr Ryan, replied.
“Well,” the excited Mrs. Stockton replied, “if my Tommy said he didn’t do it then he Tommy didn’t do it.”
Fr Ryan couldn’t believe what he was hearing, so he suggested that Mr. Stockton come and clear up this matter.
The next morning, Mr. Stockton took time out from work to see what was going on with Fr Ryan and his wife and son.
“Yes, Father, I believe you have some kind of problem with my wife and son about some wall?” Mr. Stockton said.
“I don’t believe what I heard, Mr. Stockton. First I asked your son who knocked down the walls of Jericho and he said he didn’t do it. Yesterday, I thought your beautiful wife, Elaine, could clear up the matter, only she said that if Tommy said he didn’t do it, he didn’t do it. I am sure that a fine educated man like yourself can put the matter to rest.”
“Well, Father, I am not one for arguing. How much did the stupid wall cost?” Mr. Stockton said, as he was pulling his wallet from his pocket.
You see, it was Tommy who heard Fr Ryan threaten his mother, when he, Fr Ryan, tried to touch his mother inappropriately, and that was what young Tommy told Detective Kitson.
This was one of many scandals to fall upon the Church Of The Flaming Sword in recent years but this was not about to be hushed up. Fr Ryan went on trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Pope Randall tried to intervene without success. Robin was the only one who believed in Fr Ryan. It was Mary Ellen, Mae, Nancy, Alegra, and West, who with the Chief Prosecutor, Bill Lopez, said: “Let the son-of-a-bitch fry.”
After losing all his appeals, Fr Ryan was executed. Vivian Owen put flowers on Fr Ryan’s grave every week.
Ten years later.
Charlie Anzalone, who left the church at the time Fr Ryan went to his maker, admitted on his deathbed to the Chief Prosecutor, he had killed Elaine Stockton some ten years earlier. DNA, proved positive that Fr Ryan did not kill Elaine Stockton.