By Michael Daigle
The Patch
December 14, 2011
http://chatham.patch.com/articles/defense-attorneys-cannot-reveal-priest-s-funds
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Judge Thomas V. Manahan ruled Wednesday that the defense attorneys for Jose Feliciano cannot portray the $10,000 in the possession of the Rev. Edward Hinds as a potential payoff to hide the priest's behavior.
The issue arose following the end of redirected testimony by Feliciano, when defense attorney Neill Hamilton was preparing to call as a witness Morris County Prosecutor's Lt. Stephen Wilson.
Before Wilson could testify, Manahan excused the jury while Hamilton and Prosecutor Robert Bianchi debated the matter.
Hamilton said that he would present the possibility that the $10,000 in cash found in the rectory at St. Patrick Church in Chatham, where Hinds was the pastor, was "hush money."
Hamilton said that Hinds had offered to help Feliciano financially after the janitor who was being fired, left the job.
Hinds, Hamilton said, had a relationship with Feliciano over a number of years, that the priest knew about allegations of past crimes in Feliciano's past, which had become an issue in his continued employment, and that "he just wanted [Feliciano] to go away."
Bianchi said the money was donated to Hinds by a parishioner, and that one envelope with $5,000 had notations on it indicating Hinds had plans for the funds, and that $5,000 more was in an unopened envelope.
He argued that the presentation to the jury of Hamilton's characterization of the money served the purpose of trying to confuse the jury.
An angry Bianchi said the presentation of the funds as hush money served "no other purpose but to murder the soul and reputation" of Hinds.
Manahan said the defense could present the existence of the money to show that Hinds had the financial means to assist Feliciano after he left the job at the church.
"There is nothing in the record that indicated that Father Edwards Hinds offered this as hush money," the judge said.
Previously Wednesday afternoon, the jury listened to portions of Feliciano's hospital bed interview by Capt. Jeff Paul, of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.
While the tape was enhanced for clarity, Manahan said, much of Feliciano's responses were difficult to hear or understand. The jury had been presented with printed copies of the testimony.
The trial resumes Thursday when Wilson is expected be called back to the stand.
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