New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-04
FATHER KILLEEN SILENT.
HE HAS NO FORMAL KNOWLEDGE" OF
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
STORY CURRENT IN BAYoNNE THAT HIS
HOuyEKEEPER WHO WAS THE CAUSE OF


HoUsEKEEPER WHO WAS THE CAUSE OF
TIE TROUBLE. Is HIS NIECE
Father Killeen pastor of ST. Mary's Star Of the
Sea Roman Catholic Church at Bergen Point, had
returned to Bayonne yesterday from his - ua' re-
treat at Seton Hall College. but he declined to sec
those who called at the rectory concerning the
,rouble "At this stage OF affairs cannot say any
thing regarding the charges said TO have been pro-
ferred against me by certain Of my parishoners'
he said TO a Tribune reporter. Il have no lof1ha'
knowledge Of any such charges Bishop "isse'
not having communicated with me ABOUT ''e'"'
Under the Giro instances l have not made any
preparations for a defence. prefer TO await oe'
yelopments / returned yesterday from my re,reaf
at Seton Hail. but did not leave there hurrieay'
Other priests also left yesterday the weather being
warm. am much obliged to you for Offering me
an opportunity 10 make a public statement
While the opponents OF Father Kileen. VINO nave
signed the charges against him, are uhwih"e ~
talk for public alton, and arc desirous 'ha' tner
Identities sail not be disclosed until Bishop Wig
ger shall have acted on the petition for rather Nh
leen's removal II is understood that they inteha 10
support the charges with considerable evioence'
1t is known that the signatures OF nfty-hve par
ishioners attached 10 the petuoh anu Ci"i vs.
which are In detail as follows
To the Right Rev. Bishop Wigger;
We the undersigned. rightfui parsh.oneis OF - 81.
Marys Church. Fayonne. do hereby petition your
iorrsnip 10 remove our pastor. the Rev. Thomas NJ
Kileen. on charges hrenafter stated
We charge and are willing to suoStah'a'e ."e w.
Frst-That Father Ki.leen has trans.erred pr1p,s
~ in this and other cities 10 one Wenhrtr rUtu,
ho,rsekeeper in his Employ. the publication OF whlch
Seoond-That The aforesaid pastor did 60 Oh d u -
w Th,S S'9 Fs her Killeen accompanied by said
Wxifred Ford, seen at Saratoga Springs ana III
" FmIrrhNThat Father Killeen permitted Winifred
Ford 10 sir at the priests fable at meas ana 10 20
IN hsr nreaenc.s much to their humiliation.
Ffrh-That after your Ordship dlrectei h,c1el
Kireen 20 remove said housekeeper las we oeicve.
he Induced her 70 rurn and resume her lorIne'
sxth-Tba, Father Killee has been eeen from me
- ,inr sit.inx in company Of said Winfred Ford on
the porch OF the parochil residence IN we" ol
pssstrs5y .he same causing scandal among the
sevenrh-That when the psrshioners Of g. Mar q.
their religion Father Kileen desecrated the mouse
Of God by making II polling place whle "aSsc
"f Eah5bmThat Father Killecn while delivering
sermon or An antl-picnic address, use1 las "ase
unfit for publication In the most sensa'l0''ai "e"'
Nnh-Thst he has politically sc9fred a, s tne con-
Tenth-That IN general We deem ram an nh ,v.,
inf, be pastor both Pro ans am ana
1a,fag respect for his sndviduaiity anu rcb or
inv OF our partsnhoners DO not go 20 or cnui0' Vi
attend any other church on that account
When the committee from the disgruntled PARISH
week they also handed the ordinary Of the Newark
diocese the subjoined plea for the retention Oh
Father William J. Richmond as curate:
II having been rumored that cur dearly n ys oT
and faithful Father Richmond forced 70 ieave uu
parsh owing 70 personal differences thrust upon MIN
b, our nastor We the undersigned. do herepy peu-
ton your ordshp 70 your influence s'a, heEes
-ary your authority, IN saving rs from 10.
which would be we'll nigh irreparabe Inc respec'
and yenaraton which feel for this worthy tatner
not to mention his own ceaseless energy ann un MI
me devotion toward those who are under ms SPIT
i.uai charge prompts 20 beg Of your .ordsnip 70
help us In this. our hour OF need
This petition contained the signatures OF more
than fifteen hundred psrishioners 1t was prornpted
by runors that Father Richmond intendec 20
rom ths parish because of the imp easant
oxisting between him and Father kileen IL " az,
erted that this unpleasanness is due TO the coa9ct
# Miss Winifred Ford. who was nous keeper 10, 10,
many years at the rectory, ana tnat SINCE sIe iei
no rectorv several weeks ago under orders lssue1
he Bishop Wigger. Father Kilieen has no SPOKEN 70
"a. Richmond The satisfied parishioners are
irate becau-e story that Miss Ford Is father ~,
ieen,s niece has become current in Bayonne. lney
user, that this allegation was orsinated tnr me
nrnose of covering the numerous transfers OK Isa..
made 70 Miss Ford by Father kilesn ana they say
that the priest is no reauve OF HHs io'"'er A0use