The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-19
EEst
PR. CORRIGAN'S WILL
Efforts Made to Prove I'm
due Influence Over the
Hoboken Priest.
POLICE WERE CALLED IN
Delinquent Witnesses Must Appear
Or They Will Be Arrested
For Contempt.

The Corrigan will case was begun In
the Orphans Court this morning. Coun-
sellor Alex. Young, who appeared for
~caveators, made another attempt to
have the case postponed because Rev.
Fathers Fitzpatrick and Fabris were not
present. He said tina their testimony
was very important, and owing to their
absence he could not proceed satisfac-
torily with the taking Of testimony.
Judge Hudspeth announced that he was
adverse to granting another postpone
ment, as the case had been set down for
almost every Friday during the present
term, and had blocked the business of
the court long enough. Counsellor Young
said that he had a number of witnesses
in court and the Court instructed him
to proceed with the case. Mr.. Young
is being assisted In the case by Coun-
sellor Leon Albeit. Jr. Senator William
D.. Daily and Corporation Attorney Jas.
F. Minturn of Hoboken represent the
MT. Minturn was the first witness.
He testified that on the night of Janu-
airy $ last he received word that Father
wanted at h bedside Of the priest.
He Immediately went to the parsonage,
and found Father Corrigan sinking, fast;
said that it was his last will and tesla
ment. Dehlia Dorcey was called from
downstairs, n in their presence Father
will. MI. Minturn asked hin whether it
he replied yes" Then both Mr.. Min
urn and Dehlia Dorcey signed it..
stand. She testified that she was in
Father Corrigan's house during his ILL
ness, and that on the might in question
Mr.. Mlnturn came down stairs and
oc1yol k4,. r. ~ &c n uTifnnSSA She want
upstairs, and Father Corrigan said that
he wanted her to act as a witness to
his will. Then in her presence he signed
THE WILL PROVED.
The will having been proven, was then
admitted by the Court, and Counsellprs
Albeit and Young made another plea for
adjournment. The Court refused to
recalled.
QUINN" she said. They were at the
house after Father C%orrigan,s death. !
that she knew Fathers Fitzpatrick and
Fabris. bu did not know of-a visit of
Father Corrigan to Father Eltzpatr1ck's
room one night in the latter part Of
knew Mary F~ftzgibbons, who worked at
Father Corrigan's house, but was not
present when her brother visited the
house and caused a disturbance. She
Ald hO AAlONf IS lartA W
ance between Father Fitzpatrick and
Father Corrigan. She admitted they
were not on good terms. She did not
remain in the house at nights during
on the top floor. Father Fitzpatrick's
room was down stairs, but she never
heard a noise such as shouting or pound
ing on a door When asked why she
did not stay at the parish house at
night, she said that her father forbade
it, but that she did not know why. She
further said that Margaret Mulery and
Mrs. Divorcene, cousins of Father Corri-
gan, were both in the house when Father
Corrigan sent her to get Mr.. Minturn
on the night the win was signed.
Neither Mrs; Mulery nor Mrs, Diyorcene
preparing the will. She saw a Sister of
Charity n DR.. Chabert standing in
the hallway, near the door of Father
oofi POLICE CALLED IN.
Detective Quinn of Hoboken testified
that the night before Father Corrigan
died he received orders to e. to the
parish aa house Gus. b to g antsin H f disturbance
Were you told what the disturbance
might be?" was asked.
''Father Fitzpatrick told me the rela-
when Mr.. Minturn objected. Counsellor
explained by saying that this question
was asked to show a condition which led
was overruled and Quinn then stated
that Father Fitzpatrick old him that he
expected relatives of Father Corrigan
to come to the house and reatestrouble
Corporation Attorney Minturn was re-
called and he testified that he knew
Mrs. Ryan as a relative Of Father Cor
rigan. She was one of the legatees. He
said that Father Corfigan dictated the
will to him and that he had it made
up in his mind. In ~dictating,' said
he. "Father Corrigan omitted the name
of Mrs. Ryan and /, knowing that she
was a. relative, asked him why he
omitted her. He replied. oh. yes, I've
forgotten that l must give her some
thing He then made provision for
This was the closing testimony for
the day, and Judge Hudspeth told Coun-
sellor Young that his witnesses must be
In court on next Friday morning at
eleven o'clock when the case would, be
continued.
that they are attending to theiE duties
and the process Of this court must be
served. If the witnesses are not here
tempt. Counsellor Young when inter
viewed by a reporter Of "The Jersey
City News said that he would prove
that Father Corrigan had gone to Father
Fitzpatrick's room and made a threat to