The record-union., 1892-12-13
REQUIsITIoN FoR REArrY.
A PRIEST ON TRIAL.
Father Corrigan Charged With Insub-
ordination.

ordination.
NEW YORK, Dec. 12-The trial, under
the forms of the Roman Catholic Church,
of the Rev. Father Patrick Corrigan of
Hoboken, n. j., began at Newark this
afternoon. Father Corrigan is charged
with insubordination in refusing to obey
the injunctions of Bishop Wigger and in
publishing a series of articles in the Free
mGa'S Journal and Catholic Register, in
which he severely criticised Bishops
Wlgger and Corrigan, and in general
maze an onslaught on CahenseyiSm in
this country. He particularly attacked
Wigger as an upholder of Cahensleyism.
The trial promises to be of much interest
to Catholics all over the country.
The proceedings this afternoon were
secret, but it is understood were simply
preliminary.
Vicar-G General O'Connor of Bishop
Wigger's official household was made
presiding officer.
The first question brought before the
Judge was as to the Secretary of the pro-
ceedings. 1t was the wish of Bishop
Wlgger that no statement be given out
for publication, and the persons present
pledge themselves to silence, but when
the oath was administered to all except
Father Corrigan he refused to bind him
self, claiming that as a defendant in
! trial of this Importance he had a right to
express his views and make known the
result of the trial.
DR.. Burtsell, in behalf of the defend
ant, objected TO the trial before DR..
O'Connor on the ground that the latter
as member OF the Bishops household,
was biased. After much discussion it
was agreed that Monsignor Doane, who
is also a member Of Wigger's household,
be appointed referee, with O'Connor to
| hear the evidence of witnesses on w Wednes-
day, and report to the regular court on
Thursday.
When the session concluded Father
Corrigan expressed himself greatly
pleased with the progress. This evening
he gave out for publication letter TO
Bishop Wigger, in which he refers to the
latter various charges, etc. He saws in
his letters he referred to the Newark
German Congress as a body and not as
individuals, and he thinks as an Ameri-
can priest he had perfect right to ex-
press his views on whist seemed to him to
be important as national and religious
question to resent an insult offered Amer
lean prelates by ecclesiastics who assem-
bled in purely English-speaking dio-
cese, and, as a professedly foreign ele-
ment, it was they who should have been
called upon to apologize.
There was no ottense intended for the
Bishop personally, and if any soreness
was manifested it was in consequences of
the Bishops official connection with that
foreign organization over which he pre-
sides every year outside Of his own do
cese, to the humiliation Of his flock, for it
is well known that this organization has
manifested an anti-American spirit on
several occasions, and caused bad blood
whenever it held meetings.
Father COrrigan says he did not intend
any disreSpect to the Bishop, and re-
Trained from replying even when the pa
pers represented the Bishop as speakinp
of what he deemed an honest duty to the
country and the church he occasioned
annoyance by inadvertence or heat of ex-
preston, he regrets it, He is perfectly
willing to let the matter drop, and hopes
the Bishop may be pleased to look at it
in the same light
Operators Strike Growing Serious,
ST. JOSEPH (Mo.). Dec. I2.-The strike
of telegraph operators On the Rock Island
road assumed a more serious aspect this
morning, when the balance of the Broth
erhood men left their KEYS. The lines
connecting with the Rock Island have
issued order to take no perishable freight
from the road.
OMAHA, Dec. 12.-The Order of Rail
way Telegraphers has leased the Union
Pacific Hotel and opened Headquarters
for striking operators on the Rock Island.
Other operators and new men who have
gone TO take the places OF the strikers.
but who can be persuaged to quit, are
given accommodations and board free,
and paid wages reglarly. A number Of
operators have already taken ADVANTAGE
Of the free hotel, and the men saw that
more are coming.