The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-16
- Priests Interference with the
Dead.

vineland (S. J.l Weekly. August II.
The Italian population Of Vineland
have been considerably agitated for few
days over d rumor that the priest Of the
Catholic church OF this place, Rev. P.
Vivet, contemplated exhuming the body
OF Joseph Maggioli, who was buried Au.
gust 4 in the Catholic cemetery, for al.
legged neglect Of "Easter duties" and
failure TO call for the priest during his
illness. But little attention was paid to
this rumor by the more intelligent Ital.
ians, because it was known that Joseph
Sauguinettu, very respectable Italian
living on Lands avenue, had paid the
trustees Of the Catholic cemetery for the
ground in which the body of Mr.. Maggi.
oil was inferred, and that, consequently
the prizes! would not be likely to execute
the rumored threat Of disinterment. But
all doubts were dissipated when Deputy
Sheriff Crowell served notice on Mrs.
Maggloli on Friday morning of this week.
The document which Constable Crowell
served was in the handwriting Of the Rev.
I. Vivet himself, and contains an official
seal containing the cross which purports
TO be emblematic Of the religion OF Jesus
The document was, by permission Of
Mrs. Maggioll, copied, and We give it
herewith as n sample OF mans inhuman.
ity toward mau-rather toward woman,
a. it is in this shocking instance. This
poor widow lives in small house on
Chestnut avenue, near the Atlantic coun.
ty line. She has four orphan children.
The furniture Of her little home was so
scanty that the rooms looked as though
they had been vacated. The woman, her
self, is a poor, frail, sickly creature, and
seemed all worn out by grief and toll and
care. When the constable served the
notice on her, and its contents had been
explained 10 her, she burst into tears.
The scene was indeed heartrending. II
was hard indeed to bury her husband, and
most distressing to her to provide the iu.
neral expenses, which, for her, were burd.
ensome, but now to DO told that her hus.
bands body must be dug up was the SC.
verest blow Of all. The poor little wo.
man explained that her husband was
Catholic, but that he did not send for the
priest because he did not expect to die.
The following is an accurate copy Of
the notice served on Mrs. Maggioll:
CATHOLIC CIIURcH, /
MILLvILLR, n. j., August 10, 1877. !
Dear Ms. J5Stph Mla9OiO NiggiOil;
Your husband, though bOlns sick about eighteen
months having died without having attended to
ILLS Easter duty and without calling for priest
during his sickness, and beNpg buried III tho Cath
ole ceuetry Hgainst the resolution made by the
trustees Of tho church, my lawyer advises Inc 10
write to you through courtesy and to request you
10 have your husband removed from tho Catholic
cemetery, and TO have him buried whore you like.
should you fall or neglect 10 have him removed be-
fore Monday, the 18th Instant, Will be obliged to
have him removed At your expense. The money
you paid MT. John Moran can DO refunded to you
atany time you call for It. Hoping you will no,
force me TO prosecute you according 10 the laws Of
treSpassr nm respectfully yours,
Some OF the citizens OF Vineland, on
hearing OF the attempted outrage by Fa.
Their Viyet, and feeling deep sympathy
for the poor Italian woman, called on Z.
NJ. Turner, Esq, and hatgentleman very
generously volunteered 10 defend her
against the threatened assault. Accord.
ingly Mr., Turner wrote the following
letter 10 Father Vivet:
visELASD, August 10, 1877.
Re-. P. HSpd:
Dear SIR You are hereby notllId not TO disturb
or remove the body Of Joseph MAGgioll, deceased,
and now buried nth0 Catholic cemetery situated
10 VinelAnl, ~, Should you DO 20, or cause the
same TO 10 Done you shall DO dealt with u the law
EN-. TURNER. Attorney.