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

las exclusively duuOuuCGu III 4AE OEh-
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 Corrigan's trial. at the first hear
ing at the Cathedral RocJory yesterday
afternoon.
Father Corrigan and DR.. BurtsslI were
the first to arrive at the rectory, getting
there at about twenty inmates 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 Ia the trial
took seats at the table.
THE FIRST sKIRMIsH,
When the priests had seated, a young
man was noticed standing in the room. He
was Mr.. Thomas Preston, a stenegrapher,
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 n verbatim
report of The proceedings. DIR. Smith
objected. and Father O'Connor decided
that Mr.. Preston could not remain. This
1lIGkuCoU SCLGlCNS OhCA OS0 La
which promises to be one of the ~fiercest
and most surprising OF any in the Catho-
lie Church.
DIR. BURTsELL AGGRESSIVE.
DIR. Burtsell Immediately became e
gressive, He objected to Father O'Con-
nor acting as Judge. The objections
he said, 81 have written out, but l do not
| propose to read them now. Bishop Wig
| ger, l expected, would be present, and
my reasons for objecting | would have
made known to him. 1t would be highly
indelicate to make known to yourself my
objections"
'Well. what do you intend dolng?"
asked DR.. Smith.
1.-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.
priest, and these two act as referees, and
consider objections to tho Judge
and also pleas in his favor.
If they can agree on a decision, they
notify the Bishop in writing. II they
cannot agree, they select a third, n
their decision is likewise submitted to
the Bishop.
THE REFEREES.
DR.. Burtsell selected the Rev. DR.. Pat
rick f. insolvency. pastor Of st. Brid-
gets Church. New York.
DR.. Smith chose Mgr. Doane, rector of
the Cathedral. Newark.
After some little debate 1t was decided
to have the, referees meet Thursday
afternoon at two o'clock in the Cathedral
rectory, Newark. The referees will re-
port to the Bishop their conclusions Mon
day next.
WILLING TO HAVE G sAToLLI.
During the debate over the judgeship.
n. -.sA @@t ~ ryar nr1N ,rt-o al Eo 1~,y
that Bishop Wigger was satisfied
to have Mgr. Satolli try the
case. DIR. BurtselI refused to consider
this, and Father Corrigan, who during
all the debate had remained silent,
merely taking notes of the proceeding.
said:-
81 asked the Bishop to appoint Mgr.
Satolli Judge, but he positively refused.
So that settles the matter"
THE OATH 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 1873, deciding a Judge had
discretionary power in the matter, and
could put under oath all persons con-
nected with an ecclesiastical trial.
DR.. Burtsell replied that the law ap-
piled only to witnesses and officials of a
Court, and not TO the accused.
DR.. Smith then demanded that DR..
BurtselI be put under the oath Of secrecy.
For the first time during the debate DR..
BurtsslI became nettled. THAT is an in
suit to me-" he exclaimed, My character
is known. am not accustomed to reveal
matters to the newspapers, and I do not
deem it necessary TO place me under
OATH"
Father O'Connor here %interposed and
said that as there had arisen doubt as TO
his right CT power to administer the oath,
he would at present refuse to do SO.
DR.. Smith took exception TO the ruling,
close.