Coughlan, Father Michael, Loreauville, Louisian, to Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1881 January 13

When Coughlan spoke to him about the college of New Iberia last month, Perché told him to put it will in writing. He reminds him that the college had failed completely when he was charged with it, that it owed several hundred dollars which he paid, and that Perché himself paid approximately $1000 due on the institution. Several times he asked to leave. A little before Perché's departure for Europe, Perché had negotiated through Father Joseph Anstaett with the Brothers of Mary for the purchase of the college. One brother accompanied by Anstaett examined the college and made a favorable report to his superior. Father Claude Jacquet knew of this. The yellow fever and quarantine of 1878 hurt them a great deal financially. The flood of September 1879 destroyed the church at Fausse Pointe, several persons were killed, and the harvest largely destroyed. Coughlan then went north to seek funds to rebuild, leaving the college in charge of three professors. Hardly had he left, when Jacquet began scheming to take over the college. He wrote to Father Henri Parmantier Parmentier of Galveston to get ready to come as a professor. Finally, when Parmentier was on the way to France, Jacquet took him. Parmentier is not qualified. Until that time Jacquet had always said that he wanted nothing to do with the college, and Coughlan had not had the least trouble with him. Several weeks after Coughlan left, Jacquet took possession without any authorization. He dismissed several negro gardeners and without their surveillance many objects belonging to the college and Coughlan were stolen. If Jacquet had waited until the end of the school year the money due could have been collected and the few debts paid. Besides his salary, Coughlan has made repairs on the building costing about $350, he left there a brass band which cost him $130, class books worth about $60, a new stove $50, and several other articles. Jacquet took two cows belonging to Coughlan. One died in his possession leaving a calf which Jacquet killed and ate. On Coughlan's return, Jacquet gave him $3 for the calf and nothing for the cow. Now Jacquet refuses to pay the debts of the college. When charged with the college, Coughlan paid debts he had not contracted himself and in his more than six years there he did not received half his salary. He has been charged with a parish and his predecessor in leaving took all the money for the pews. Since then the church has fallen down and all the money he can get he is using to build a new one. During Leray's absence, the vicar general decided that Jacquet should pay the debts of the college since they were not personal debts. Jacquet paid Mr. Gagarty for the class books; he ought by the same token recognize his responsibility for the other debts. - A.L.S. - French, copy - VI-3-c - A.L.S., A.L.S. Copy - French - 5pp. - 12mo. & 4to. - {9}