The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-12
6cious ! Hoboken
( Id His Attorney
on the Scene.
JUDGE BEHIND TINE.
#the Charges Preferred
st Father Corrigan-
#e Correspondence in
I the Case.

to the non-arrival of the Judge. the
@E||.| ~. j. j. O'Connor of Seton Hall. Vicar
heral of the diocese, and the Prosecut-
- Attorney, the Rev. DR.. Smith OF Pat
fson.
About twenty minutes to two Father
CorrIgan accompanied by his attorney
#Rev. DR.. BNrtsell, of RoEdout. n. T.,
and Mr.. Thomas Preston, stenographer'
arrived at the rectory. Father Corr1gan
was In the best of humor. and chatted
pleasantly with the score of reporters
present; DIR. Burtsell was very courte-
Gus, but he positively refused to give out
an information whatever.
Rev Father Wallace, assistant at the
Cathedral, will be the notary at the trlal.
He was unable to say, at quarter TO Two
O'Clock, what caused the absence OF
Fathers O'Connor and Smith.
The trial will take place III the parlor
of The rectory, to the left OF the entrance.
A long table has been placed in the centre
of the room. At the head will sit
the Judge, Father .OConnor while
ou the opposite side, to the right and left
respectively will sit fatners RS, Smltn lil anu anu
Burtsell. Father Corrigan will sit at one
end, near DR.. Burtsell, and Father Wal
lace at the other end.
In trialsI OF this character it is
customary TO swear all parties concerned
to secrecy. Whether this will be done
at this trial will depend altogether upon
the action of Father O'Connor.
Father Wallace, the notary, will recon-
mend that he be allowed to give an OIL
cial statement to the press.
Father Corrigan will ask to have his
slenographer, Mr.. Preston, take notes of
the trial.
It is also said Father Corrigan will OBJ
ject 10 Father O'Connor acting as judge.
coutending that as he is virtually mem-
ber of the Bishops household he will be
prejudiced.
These several preIiminaries settled. the
case will then begin by the presentation
of the charges by Rev. DR.. Smith.
Father Corrigan is In favor of speedy
trial, and in case of adverse decision, he
will Immediately appeal to Mgr. Satollf.
DELAY REFUSED.
Upon receiving the summons on NO
vember 26 Father Corrigan wrote to his
~ " - November &c. 1892
Your citation to stand trial for certain charges
on December 12, has arrived at noon today. The
time is entirely TOO short, considering the fact
that my increased Parochial duties on account OF
the new school and the lack of one assistant
oblige me to seek help in preparing the case
from some one that has time and skill to attend
such matters. The approach of Christmas
renoers 1t very difficult for me to secure such
aid. as no priest has a moment to spare.
The case is likely TO attract much attention
aid neither side can suffer by a reasonable al
-vauce of time. The trial cannot well come
fl before Christmas without great prejudice to
lao md for this reason l ask that it be post
u Led till some time after that,
WIS informed some time ago that you OBJ
cted to the presence of the Rev. DR.. Burrsell
New York in the capacity Of an advocate in
e Newark Diocese. / would like to know if
you have any objection to him in case think it
advisable to ask him to see 10 my interests.
Hoping to hear from you on these two points,
remain, yours in Christ,
PATRICK CoRRIGAN.
The answer of the Bishop to the first
point was a ''peremptory citation to
stand trial on the day originally appoint
ed" He had no objections TO the Rev.
DR.. Burtsell as Father Corrigau's de-
fender.
PROTEST AGAINST o'CoNNoR
When it became known that the Vicar
General, Father John j. O'Connor Of
Seton Hall College. had been selected as
the Judge, Father Corrigan at once pro-
tested against it. declaring it to be unfair
;, TO select an avowed adherent OF the
Bishop to be judge in the difference be-
tween himself and the Bishop. He asked
that Father Patrick Hennessy of St,
Patrick's Church of Jersey City or the
Rev. Dean McNulty of Paterson. n j., be
appointed. In case the Bishop should re-
fuse either of these two priests, Father
Corrigan declared his willingness to sub
NIT the question in diSOute to the arbi-
tration OF Legate Satolll. This sugges-
ton brought forth the following reply
from the Bishop
SETON HALL COLLEGE 5
SOUTH ORANGE, N. j., Dec. q
The Rev. Patrick CoYriaan:
DEAR SrK-Afier serious reflection / have de-
cided to make no change. but to retain the Very
Rev. John J. O'Connor, " e., as presiding
judge of the criminal court which is to convene
A4raI aIorr naa nf1ur1 o%& -
1consider him a competent and impartial man.
able and willing to try you justly and impair
tally.
therefore again peremptorily cite Won and
command you to appear in court to be held at
No % Bleecker street. Newark, NJ j., on Mon
day, December H. at two o'clock P. NJ. If you
O'Connor, V. g., you can bring them forward
then and there.
Yours, respectfully,
WINASD NJ WJaeER
Bishop of Newark.
To make sure where Archbishop Corri-
gan stood in this matter. Father Corri-
gan on the day he received the summons
to appear before the Diocesan Criminal
- COURT wrote the following letter to his
Archiepiscopal namesake:-
APPEAL TO THE ARCHBISHOP
HoBoKEN, N. j.. Nov, 26 1899
J DEAR Bishop Wigger, in a cita-
ion Just received to stand trial Dec .inber 12 of
|ueged false statements published by me in the
eW i 0fk ffSefnQ1t y COWfJeQf, november II and
october 29 and especially in the one of Novem-
Ber II, demands retraction and apology for your
race and himself He refers to the fable and
lie specifies no statements l suggested in my
snswer that it would be better to take no cog
hizance OF mere fable
do not think that your Grace looks at thin gs
In the same light as the Bishop and am anxi-
Gus to ascertain If ain correct in this view for
you are too well aware of the state OF things in
Ibis diocese to take advantage of mere Incl
dtntals or trfies, to which a person must have
recourse in order to reach a certain end
know the Bishop will take advantage of every
conceivable means to make out case against
me and that he relies in great measure ON his
charge that insulted your Grace.
As much may depend this item of his
charge, trust you will pardon my asking your
Grace about it. Your servant in Christ
PATRICK CoRRIGAN
His Grace NJ. A. Corrigan, Archbishop of New
York
The Archbishop of New York replied
to this letter through his Secretary. by
expressing the hope that Father Corrj-
gan would see his way clear to make an
apology 10 the Right Rev. Bishop Wigger
of Newark
THE CHARGES.
The full textsof the formal charges is
as follows:-
In accordance with the request of the Right
Rev. Ordinary of Newark, the undersigned. in
lis capacity of fiscal procurator, prefers the
following charges against the Rev. Patrick Cor
rignn of Hoboken:
l. That he has malicously knowingly. and
willfuly published in the New York Freeman S
Journal and Catholic Register Of October 20,