The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-06
TRIED ON rRirr4D CHARGES. 81
How Dr. NeNuity Incurred mr.. s-ith''
Dispisasure.

Several stories. as sensational az they were
inaccurate. have been published concerning
the citing Of the Venerable Dean McNulty Of
Paterson and the Rev. Father Hennessey OF 81.
Patrick's Church. Jersey City before the 90
clesiastical court convened at Seton Hall Col.
lege. South Orange, to defend themselves
against charges. In all. or nearly all.
the stories. Dean McNuty and Father
Hennessey are made Joint defendants
against charges preferred By the Rev. Father
Fabris. assistant at the Church OF Our Lady OF
Grace. In Hoboken. This IL one OF the inaccu-
racies. 1t lie true that Father Hennessey and
Dean McNulty were defendants before the eo-
clesiastical court on Friday Of last week. but
there is no connection whatever between the
two cases. The trials were separate. Dean
McNulty was tried In the morning. and Father
Hennessey in the afternoon. Father Hennes-
sey's case was not concluded.
The Rev. DR.. Smith. rector OF St Joseph's
Church in Paterson. was the complainant
against Dean McNulty. He is also the Official
prosecutor in the ecclesiastical court Of which
Bishop WiEger Is the Judge. The recent pro-
lonRed and bitter controversy between him
and his curate. Father Murphy. attracted .
great deal Of public attention. DIR. Smith so-
cuses Dean McNulty of interfering with his
parish and making wanton complaints against
him to the Bishop.
1t seems that Dean McNulty sympathizsd
with Father Murphy In his trouble with DE.
Smith. subsequently Mrs. Wslburghs TEN.
died. Her family desired to have funeral SER
vices for her in the church. but was unable to
to Dean McNulty and told him that Father
smith had refused to admit the body to the
vance. 81 for opening tho church. and SIS Tor
the mass. Dean McNulty told Templsmsn to
hs BhoS
calling hts attention to the case. and suggest
ne p stSP ahd ST. %chae
churches in the diocese where a fee is exacted
for opening the church on the occasion OF
funeral. Dr. Smith resented Dean MoNulty's
Interference. and the result was that Dean Mo-
Nuity was summoned before the ecclesiastical
Tho case OF Father Hennessey Is altogether
that DIR. Fabris had accused him OF giving
some information to newspaper relating to
Bishop Wisgsr regarding M Father gt Cos2issns
plan q obtaining State aid for his parochiai
matter. and. feeling assured that DR.. Fabris
nSd made He ft ish wrote 70 the Bsh I
Fabris, who denied that he made the state
lie also furnished the Bishop with q written
original statement Bishop WiRger then COM
ten denial Father Hem essey thersupon with
drew his complaint saying that, although he
had received the inform alton on the very best
authority he was willing to accept Father
Eabris' denial This did not suit Father Fabris.
He insisted that Father Hennessey should be
tried for making wanton and malicious charges
against him. and that Is what Father Hennesssy
Is being tried for.
:. At the trial Bishop wigesr presided. and DR.,
Smith acted as prosecutor as we'll as counsel
for DIR. FAbris Father Hsnnessey was de-
fended by the Rev. DR.. OFlynn OF this city.
Two witnesses said the statement was made
publicly. in the presence of half q dozen re-
porters, that Father Fabris was authority for
tho assertion that Father Hennessey h ad given
out for publication Father CorriRan's letter to
Pope Leo In regard to the school question.
The person who made the statement Is the
same one who afterward gave Dr.. Fabrts q
written certificate that he never made It, and
II was looked upon as Il significant fact that
DIR. Fabris did not have him at the trial to
swear to his certificate.
Tho citing Of two such prominent and ven.
cradle priests as Father Hennessey and Dean
McNulty before the ecclesiastical court on
what are considered trivial charges 10 being
freely comm ented upon both by the clergy and
laity. 1t Is openly said that they are being
prosecuted on account Of their friendship fol
the late Father Corrigan.
When SUS reporter called on Father Hen.
nessey last night. he positively refused to dis
cuss the matter or make any statement what.
ever. He referred the reporter to Bishop Wig
ger. DIR. FRbris was equally rettcent