Norwood Incident Apparently Based on Hoax; Churchman Not Worried at All

Richard Cardinal Cushing, archbishop of Boston, today dismissed an alleged threat on his life as “a lot of nonsense”. The cardinal was surrounded by armed police In Norwood Thursday night and then was escorted home by two cruiser after the alleged threat.

Today just about everyone was denying that the threat ever existed. “It must be a hoax. I don’t know a thing about it” Cardinal Cushing said. Norwood Police Chief James M. Murphy, who was called from a town meeting to rush to Cardinal Cushing side, insisted there was no special cause for the unusual precautions. Both the cardinal and Murphy said the prelate always got a police escort when he visited Norwood.

“When I go out there, he always gives me a ride home.” Cardinal Cushing said. Police converged on St. Catherine’s Church in suburban Norwood as the cardinal was addressing 800 persons attending an 8 p.m. mass for the installation of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Sennott as new pastor.

The first sign of something being possibly wrong appoired when Chief Murphy entered the church and escorted Cardinal Cushing down the aisle after mass. Four other policemen clustered around the cardinal he walked 50 yards to the church rectory. Throughout the entire ordeal. Cardinal Cushing appeared and unconcerned. He visited nuns after the mass, stopped to allow parishioners to kiss his ring and waved and smiled at friends.

Rev. Francis J. Delaney. curate at St. Catherine’s. who reportedly had received the threatening call, later told newsmen he had no knowledge of any such threat being received. However, at the church, when asked by a reporter whether he told Cardinal Cushing of the death threat, Chief Murphy answered. “No I didn’t. There were others closer to him but I’m sure he knew something was going on and that special precautions were being taken to perguard him.”

At least 10 police were on guard at one time, observers said.