Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-08-14
TO INVESTIGATE
WOLF-CULLEN
ROW IN COURT
Knights of Erin Take Up
Judges Cause Against Cath
oIic Aid Society.
JUDGE DECLARES WOMAN
HAS PROMISED TO REFORM
Also Writes to Rev. E. F.
0uirk, Explaining His.
Action.

An investigation of the row in the
Second Precinct Court yesterday be-
tween Police Judge II. Edward Wolf
and Superintendent John A Cullen,
of the Catholic Children's Aid So
/ ciety, has been started by the
knights of Erin. Alexander F.
Cashin, investigator for the knights,
will try to ascertain if Judge Wolf
acted in a proper manner in refusing
to take a child away from Mrs. Mar
garet Reilly, of AZ Bergen street,
against whom charges of habitual
intoxication had been made
The knights will hold meeting in
| the T. A. b. S. Hail. on Hudson
street, next Friday night at o'clock.
| They will hear the report of Mr.
Cashin, and If necessary take steps
to have the Reilly case disposed of
even If Judge Wolf refuses to deal
with the case.
Mr.. Cullen appeared before Judge
Wolf in the Second Precinct Court
as complainant against Mrs. Reilly
Martin j. Ryan, an agent of the So
ciety, testified of the deplorable con-
ditions found in the home of Mrs
Reilly, who was charged with being
an habitual drinker
The proceeding ended with Judge
Wolf informing Ryan if the latter
'swore on a stack of Bibles he would
not be believed. Superintendent Cul-
len then took a hand and sought to
impress on the judge how serious the
situation was growing at the Reilly
home. He told the judge Isabella, six
year-old daughter of Mrs. Reilly, is
suffering from tuberculosis and is i'm
properly cared for.
Moral Influence Bad.
In addition to the dangerous condi-
tions surrounding the child, as far as
her health was concerned said Mr.
Cullen, there was the added bad in
fiuence of those around her. Judge
Wolf related how he was brought up
by his widowed mother and expressed
his belief Mrs. Reilly would mend her
ways if given a chance.
When Mr.. Cullen broadly intimated
the consequences would rest with the
judge the latter threatened to hold
Mr.. Cullen in contempt of court Mr..
Cullen declared in his fifteen years of
experience in the same work he had
never received such treatment in a
court before.
Rev. Edward f. Quirk, acting rector
of st. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
expressed resentment at the action
taken by Judge Wolf The priest
said he had known the Reilly family
for dozen years and declared that
the effort to take away the little girl
from evil surroundings was fully justi-
fled by the facts. The priest also
gave his opinion that the Catholic
Children's Aid Society and similar
organizations would fail of their pur-
poses, If cases as well deserving of
court action as the Reilly case, were
thrown but of court by the presiding
judge he said Judge VOLTS action
was entirely unwarranted and his
actions greatly displored
Conditions are different now for
Mrs. Reilly than they were six months
ago." said Judge Wolf today. "She
has given me her promise to give up
drinking and take care of her children
properly. In addition | have written
her pastor, Father Quirk, and asked
him to keep tabs on the woman. II
her behavior is the same as complain
ed Of most certainly | will reconsider
the complaint and take the child
away if it is shown she is not a re-
sponsible person."
Father Quirk today told of receiv-
ing a letter from Judge Wolf this
morning but refused to discuss 1t.
The priest said he would prefer to
make some arrangement with Judge
Wolf through correspondence and
until decision was reached did no.
feel at liberty to discuss the judges
private communications.
Superintendent Cullen left the city
yesterday to spend a weekend in the
country.