New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-16

VcarGeneral had ayowed his prejudice against fa'n'r
Corrlgan and was biased a member Of the BISHOP >
household. examined several priests VINO hah pceh SUM
moned by Father Corriean, among them Father Hen
ncssey OF Jersey City; the Rev. Patrick Cody' OF
Newark: Dean McNuty, OF Paterson. and Dean FNnh'
OF MorristOwn. 1t understood that the vicar
General had absontcd himself because he dld hot
care to preside as Judge until the question OF the
propricy Of his doing 30 was passed upon by inc
ccTees. AT late hour in the afternoon 1t WAS an
uounced to the reporters that no information OF the
proceedings would be given ont until tie session ad-
jOuTned.
At 5I5 O'Clock the session Of tn" referees was
concluded and Deans McNnlty and Flynn and Drs.
Bmtsell and smith hurried off with the other priests
tn catch trains The Rev. Thomas A. Wallace. OF
ST. Patrics Cathedral the diocesan notary, then nnde
an Official statement Of what took place lefoIe the
referees lie said that J. +. Murphy, Of Jersey City,
was sworn az the official stenoerapher for yes
tcrfay only The witnesses who were examined
were Dean McNulty and Dean Flynn Father Patrick
Cody OF Newark and Father Hennessy. OF jersey
City Father COrrigan also examined NO
witnesses wee examined for the prosecution
Father smith said that ali the witnesses testified
that they thought Wcar-Genera OConnor could not
be a strictly impartial judge, by reason Of lis being
a member OF Bishop Wiggers household, his vicar,
and closely associated with hun socially, and in
the administration OF the diocese. The witnesses,
all Of whom were called by Father e. rrgan, also
said that they themselves could not be impartial
Judges IN the case for the reason that their people
are so much excited the case, and they thought
no priest In the Newark diocese could be impartial.
for the same reason. They AL expressed the opin-
ion that 1t might be better 10 select for judges some
ccrgymen outside Of tie Newark diocese. The wit
nesses desired II to be known, however, that they
had nothing against VcarGencra OConnor per-
sonaly, and Father Corrg,n said this also.
Father Wallace said that the referees VIII have
a meeting in 81. Patricis rectOry at 10 30 o'clock
on Saturday morning, and then prepare their report
or submit it Bishop Wigger, at seton Hall Col
Iege on Monday next. He added that II the ref
erces had agreed they had not said at tho scs-
sion, nor had they said to him that they had dis
agreed and would select n third referee.
Father Corrigan announced however. that Mgr.
Dosne and the Rev. DIR. NJ {. sweeney had failed to
agree, and that they will select another priest, pCb
ably from outside the diocese. 10 serve a. third
referee arbitrator and that then it Will be de
cided whether vlcar-Genersl O'Connor is to continue
as Judge; and IL he Is not the arbitrator will recon-
mend another judge for appointment Father Cor
rigan also said that he had summoned witnesses
Father shepherd, OF Passac, and his assistant, Father
O'Gorman, and also Father George Corrsan, Of Patcr-
SON brother OF Archbishop Coris'.n, hut they did
not respond. They will not be examined now.
Father Corrigan said that he surprised that any
priest OF the Newark diocese tesiihel, because II
would be considered by priests that In giving evidence
they taln2 sizes between MN anu Dl,hop
1t is believed that the referees when they do agree
upon a course, will recommend that Bishop Nlsetr
appOint Il judge OF the Ecclesiastical court !or
the head Of Father COrlgan's case. The Rev. Ir.
smith. the diocesan prosecutor. said to Tribune re
porter that the Church law provides that an accus "a
priest shall be ticd b. an impartial Judge and That
bishop Wiggcr desires that TIE defence IN this case
Shall have no good cause for complaint Il is known
that Vcar-GenerM O'COnn0r did not Wish 10 act
as judge. -.,,.. 49,, u,.
was the first time I'm the history " the Church IN
this country that arbraors or referees had been ap-
pointed in a case Of fills kind.