The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-13
THE TRIAL begun.
Father Corrigan Appears
Before the Ecclesiastical
Court in Newark.
HIS ABLE DEFENDER.
Rev. Judge O'Connor Objected to on
the Ground that he Is Biased
A Hot Fight Anticipated.

AS exclusively announced in THE JER-
sEY CITY NEWS last night. Father Corri-
gan, by his attorney, Rev. DR.. Burtsell,
strenuously objected to Rev. j. ]. O'Con-
nor, OF Seton Hall, acting as Judge in
Father Corrlgan's trial. at the first hear
ing at the Cathedral Rectory yesterday
afternoon.
Father Corrigan and DR.. BurtsslI were
the first to arrive,at the rectory, getting
there at about twenty minutes to two.
Fathers Smith and O'Connor arrived a
few minutes before two. They greeted
one another pleasantly and crossed over
to the private reception room with Father
Wallace. the notary. The room had been
arranged as noted in last nights NEWS.
and the five priests concerned in the trial
took seats at the table.
THE FIRST SKIRMIsH.
When the priests had seated, q young
man was noticed standing in the room. He
was Mr.. Thomas Preston, a stenographer,
a nephew of the late Mgr. Preston of
New York. DR.. Burtsell explained that
Father Corrigan desired Mr.. Preston's
presence at the trial to take q verbatim
report of the proceedings. DR.. Smith
objected, aud Father O'Connor decided
VIA A4ls l. OOOAo IA " LILAC
incident settled, then began the battle
which promises to be one of the ~fiercest
and most surprising Of any in the Catho-
lie Church.
DIR. BURTsELL AGGRESSIVE.
DR.. Burtsell Immediately became a9-
gressive, He objected to Father O'Con-
nor acting as Judge. "The objections
he said, ~ have written out, but / do not
propose to read them now. Bishop Wig
ger. l expected. would be present, and
my reasons for objecting I would have
made known to him. 1t would be highly
indelicate to make known to yourself my
objections"
"Well, what do you intend doing?"
asked DIR. Smith.
"The Procurator knows the law"
quietly answered DR.. Burtsell.
The ecclesiastical law provides that
in cases of dispute between Bishop
and priest. when objection is raised to
the trial judge appointed by the Bishop.
each side to the controversy selects a
priest, and these two act as referees. aud
consider objections to the Judge
and also pleas in his favor.
Ii they can agree on a decision. they
notify the Bishop in writing. If they
cannot agree, they select a third. and
their decision Is likewise submitted to
the Bishop.
DR.. Burtsell selected the Rev. DIR. Pat
rick L. .McSweeney, pastor OF st. Bird
gets Church. New York,
DR.. Smith chose Mgr. Doane, rector of
the Cathedral. Newark.
After some little debate it was decided
to have the referees meet Thursday
rectory, Newark. The referees will re-
port to the Bishop their conclusions Mon
day next.
WILLING TO HAVE MGR. sAToLLI.
During the debate over the iudgeship,
DR.. Smith said he was authorized TO say
to have Mgr. Satolli try the
case. DIR. Burtsell refused to consider
this, and Father Corrigan, who during
all the debate had remained silent,
merely taking notes of the proceeding,
said:-
II asked the Bishop to appoint Mgr.
SatolH Judge, but he positively refused.
SO that settles the matter"
THE ATH OF SECRECY.
DR.. Smith demanded That Father CORR.
| gan be sworn. to secrecy. In support Of
his demand he quoted laws passed by the
| Propaganda in 1878. deciding Judge had
discretionary power In the matter, and
could put under oath all persons con.
| nected with an ecclesiastical trial.
DR.. BurtSe1 replied that the law APP
| piled only to witnesses aud officials OF a
Court, aud not to the accused.
DIR. Smith then demanded that DIR,
Burtsell be put under the oath OF secrecy.
For the first time during the debate Dir.
Bprtsell became nettled. THAT is an in
suit to me-" he exclaimed. my character
is knowD. l am not accustomed TO reveal
matters to the newspapers, and l do not
deem it necessary TO place me under
oath.n
Father O'Connor here interposed and
said that as there had arisen doubt as to
his right or power to administer the oath,
he would at present refuse to do so.
DR.. Smith took exception to the ruling,
and the days proceedings came 10 a
cSnse