The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-21
WITHOUT RHLIGIOUSRITE
a Remarkable Dispute
About Freeholder Ken
ny's Funeral.
THE G. A. R. WILL OFFICIATE.
His Sister Wants the Interment in
a Firemen's Plot and Father
Corrigan Refuses to
Ofticiate.

Freeholder James Kenney died on
Tuesday morning at his residence, No. rs
Washington street, Hoboken. He died
firm believer in the Roman Catholic
Church, and the last si.craments Of that
church were administered to him by
Father Corrigan, pastor of the Church of
Our Lady of Grace
Now comes the startling announces
ment that Mr.. Kenney's body will not be
taken to any church and that, instead of
the ritual OF the Roman Catholic Church
being said over his remains, the G. A. r.
rites will be performed by Major Woerner
Post No. 81, of which Mr.. Kenney was a
member.
This announcement of a change in the
burial service has created no end of COM
ment IN Hoboken and particularly in the
First ward. 1t is thoroughly understood
that the only relatives Mr.. Kenney had
two slsters-were responsible Tor this
cnange, as they have Charge of the
funeral arrangement and the Catholic
friends of the dead Freeholder are much
lncensed. For 1t is reported that the dying
request of Mr.. Kenney was that his body
be taken to the church
DISPUTE ABOUT THE BURIAL PLACE
called on Mr.. Crane, who has cnarge
OF the funeral arrangements, this morn
ing.
"All that am supposed to do, ? said he,
rs TO follow out the orders of those who
employ me. Mr.. Kenney's sisters in
formed me on Wednesday morning that
the dying request of MIR. Kenney was
that his body De buried in the Firemen's
Plot in the Hoboken Cemetery. That
afternoon | called on Father Corrigan
ana tod MIN Il what nay orders were and
asked him il the body could be brought to
the church under the circumstances
He told me that it conld not, and I
asked him not to have any hitch at the
| funeral and to see Mr.. Kenney's sisters.
| Father. Corfigan accompanied me and
| consulted with Mr. Kenney's sisters.
| They would not listen to Father Corrf-
gan's entreaty to have the body inferred
| in consecrated ground, however, and
| Father Corrlgan informed them that the
body could not be brought to the Church
under the circumstances.
Then | was told by the sisters of the
deceased to secure Odd Fellows Hall and
that Major Woener Post, G.. A. r., would
have the rites of the G.. A. r. said at the
hall. That is all know about it,
Father Corrigan was next visited He
was found at his parsonage on Willow
avenue.
FATHER CoRRIGAN'S STORY
"On last Sunday" the father said. II
was asked TO attend Mr.. Kenney, as he
was dying. went to his house and heard
| his confession and adminitered extreme
unction to him. He died a good Catholic
and know that his wishes were to be
buried as SUCH
Il intended to say solemn high mass
| for the repose of his soul, and arrange
ments had been completed to have the
| body brought to the church, when his
| two sisters interfered. / was informed by
them that it was Mr.. Kenney's desire to
| be inferred in the fremen's plot in the
| Hoboken Cemetery.
| Whether this was his wish or not
am sure do not know, but as it was so
claimed by his sisters, and as they an
| nounced their determination to have the
| body SO inferred, it debars the privilege
| of the body being brought to the church
| 'NThis case is almost unprecedented, as
when man dies a good Catholic, like
Mr.. kS!en1ney, the body is buried in q
| Catholic burylng ground. If Mr.. Ken
ney's request is rightly interpreted l am
satisfied that the body would be buried
| in consecrated ground. have done my
| duty in the matter, however; the rest lies
| with Mr.. Kenneyis sisters"
THE SISTERS NOT FOUND
| Mr. Kenney's sisters live in New York
| and do not come to Hoboken until late in
| the evening and could not be found this
morning
! Mr. Kenney was never married. He
kept bachelors hall over his saloon
He did not attend mass for some time
past, although he always prefessed to be
| Catholic. When he was taken ill his
| two sisters came from New York to nurse
him. When he died they took charge of
the remains.
The Hoboken Councils Early Meeting.
The members of the Hoboken Council
are early risers. They met at eight
O'Clock this morning, and at half-past
nine adjourned after going through a
large amount of business. The meeting
was the result of a special call by the
Mayor to take suitable action on the
death of Freeholder kenney and to pass
the pay rolls of the police, teachers and
| laborers in the city's employ, enabling
them to get their money before Christ
mas. Suitable resolutions expressing re-
| gret at the demise of Freebooter Kenney
| were adopted and placed at large on the
minutes, and copy suitably engrossed
| sent to the family of the deceased.
| The Mayor vetoed the resolution grant
| ing further privileges to the New Jersey
and New York Telephone Company, the
pay rolls were passed. some routine work
transacted, and the meeting adjourned.