New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-13
THE CORRIGAN TRIAL BEGUN.
TWELVE CHARGES AGAINST THE PRIEST.
ALLOWED TO CALL wITNEsSEs-VICAR-GENER
o'CoNyoR JUDGE OF THE COURT

O'CONNOR JUDGE OF THE tOlhi
SECRET PROCEEDINGS.
The ecclesiastical court OF the Diocese OF Newark
convened In the rectory OF It. Parcks Cathedral Mt
O'Clock yesterday afternoon TO try the Kew Patrick
Corrigan OF Hoboken, twelve charges made by the
fiscal procurator Father Sebastian smith, on De-
half Of Bishop wigger The session was held In the
poror OF the rectory The proceedings We're secret
EIshop WIgcer was not present. The Rev. Johh J'
O'Connor Of Hall College presided rs Judge
He Is the ycar-General OF the Newark diocese anu
Professor OF DOgnatic Theology in the Diocesan sem
mary Father Corrigan was represented by Inc Kew
Richard Labor Burtsel Of Rondout, n. y, formerly
the pastor OF tho Church OF the Epiphany, III New
York CITY, The other member Of the court was
Father Wallace OF ST. Patric's Cathedral. who per'
forms the duties Of notary Ills Official htle IS UNI
OF Episcopal Notary Of the Diocesan Court OF Newark
At l :35 o'clock the Rev. Father Corrgan ana The
Rev Dr. Burtsell with n stenographer named Preston
arrived and entered the parochal residence Inc
other priests arrived soon alterward. All "ecn',ea
10 make any statements TO the reporters assembled
at the door. II had been UNDERSTOOD 'h't "'
stepognplier would be excluded from the triai as
Hinc q Iayman and not q member OF the court, ana
the assembled reporters watched for his exit out Tue
stenographer did not appear. ana the pr'S"mP'i'"
was that he had been permitted TO remain ana tnh-
record OF the proceedings for the accused pastor.
II WAS learned afterward that he had been eNciueu
from the court and allowed to remain III 'he reo'P"o
room across the hall from the parior
Az soon rs the Vicar General opened the court Df.
Burtsel Father Corrigan's counsel was on MS i'e''
ue Objected TO the vcar-Gencra acting as Judge, in
osmpcb ne he was a member OF Bishop WleSers
bouscbold and therefore biased. The objection was
ovorr,,od and an exception taken. No Withea's
rcr. called The oath taken by Father Naince
AS secretary. Then he was pledged 10 Seo''NH !"
the Vicar General. The prosecutor, the Rev seo''
,jan : smith read The printed charges against f"''i
Corrigan and there discussion OF 'ne r"'eS ''
mode NJ procedure 10 govern the court 1t was u'
,a, tho, Father Coriean through his counsel. c0uid
u any witnesses he desired. Dr. IiurtSeil did not
indicate who the witnesses would be. or what UlcS
would be called for, and no names were gwen l" Wv
court The court adjoubed at p MP
Wednesday . D. NJ in order TO allow for one uaN
interval for Father Corrigan To nave his "''''
On hand II he chooses 10 produce any
rho court will be held alternate day. am WA
=, oo,,,rn.d for .one time in case Father Corrgah
should call witnesses 10 defend all Tue ''''e"''
contained in the charges.
Al O'Clock, when the court a'Jourh'',
Corrican accompanied by the rev br' 9"'"' "
the parochial residence and at IN" 1901 Oh '"c w
WAS asked by a Tribune reporter II H. lnu "n' ~"s
20 communicate ab Jut the trial. lic irsplh''"
have nothing 10 say; my counsel DIR. Bnr's'fi'
A. that moment Dr. Burtsel and The feiiJsIHph''
or,oored at the door The doctor was asked II 'A'
ronortcr could get information from nm ol WIN
had taken place. Not from mo, c"T'''"i''
The smiling response II hall have r)'hinS % say
Five minutes later the reporter was aimit'ed % t'e
rcc.pti,n ro,m The Ncar-Gcacral ard Father Wal
lace was on the floor above. The latter o'''rhu'i
the stairs and standing at the door o. 'h' F'''P
,i,n room said Il an very sorry, eentem'O ''l'
I cannot give ypu information. for ] am the Only
member OF the court pledged Ia secrecy
In reply 70 questions. b, added. that Dr' EArt'eH
and smith and Father COrrigln were not una" 'n'
same Obligation Of secrecy that he Wa u my
would not talk he did not sec how th" reporters
would get any information. lie admitted. however
that an effort had been made behalf Of Father
co-ricsn 10 have the stcnoSraphcr remain aud iah'
6ocyn the l,roceeaings but It decided adversely
II was his opinion that the decision void govern The
whole trial.
lie wac aaked whether DR.. Durtse Ind Ohcctc1 ~
Vicar General OConnor acting judge. on the ground
that he was a member Of the Bishops household
Father Wallace declined 10 answer Father Wallace
said the proceedings had been opened with the
frma, reading OF the Official charges. DR.. Burtscil
had not Indicated the line Of defence. The proceed
pgs had been In the way Of settling the preimnarici
An Informal chat followed. Father Wallace was
asked II laynen could be called ~ wlincs-r~ IL
said he knew no reason why they could not be-
Fnthcr Corricans defence lie said. would open at
Q D. m On Wednesday. In the parlor Of the rcctcry.
The parlOr In which the court Is held Is on the
west side Of the rec;ory and fronts Ouih on Bccchcr
st. Il Is a large equare room. furnished with Old
fashioned chairs and other plain furniture. The
court sat at square table in front OF the fireplace.
the Judge at the centre, with his back toward the
fireplace At one end ~ TIE room Is a desk. on
which rests bust Of Cardinal Ws"man. Archbishop
Bayley died in the recOry. IN the rooms now cupl'd
by Monsgnor Doanc. the rector OF -. Painc\s
Cathedral Archbishop Iayley was N the time II
his death Archbishop Of the See Of Baltimore. ami.
by virtue Of that see. Fmatc Of the Catholic Church
I'm the United states. He was the first Bishop Oi
the Diocese Of Newark, when the diocese comprised
the whole state Of NewJersey.