Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, pp 60-61:

Coleman (Colman), Edward James, Very Rev., Irish
Sad Case of a 'Dignissimus' for a Bishopric
Sometimes the name is spelt Coleman, but following the run of Directories we give it as Colman. Anyhow the story is not a matter for rejoicing, for here we have a priest held in the highest regard by clergy and laity being thrust, or thrusting himself, from the altar to the 'pub' bar. County of origin has so far not come to light. Nor is it known for certainty where he studied. The columnist's notes say Maynooth. Father Ned arrived on the 'Ormuz' on 28 February 1890, and made a very impressive start as assistant at Sale under the episcopal eye. Directories (1891)(1892) confirm the placing. Then came Traralgon (1893). Probably the first place where he was in charge was in the hill country of Omeo, but this must have been for only a short time. The appointment as first pastor of Morwell was made in 1894 or the following year. The zeal and competence were pronounced. The walls of a new church were raised, the outer churches at Mirboo, Glengarry, Trafalgar, Moe received due attention - and in this he was helped by an assistant. And as the good works increased the titles kept pace. Quite obviously everyone thought Father 'Ned' a worthy priest, including his bishop, Dr. Francis Corbett. The foundation stone of a new church at Morwell was laid on 26 October 1902. The year before he had been named Diocesan Administrator. In October 1909 he was given a Deanery charge but well before that he was carrying the prefix: Very Rev. The same year he carried out the duties of Secretary to the Catholic Congress in Sydney, 'posing before the footlights' at the event itself. The natural choice for a Vicar Capitular was Father 'Ned' when Dr. Corbett died on 29 May 1912. And when the priests met to place a nominee to succeed the deceased bishop, the choice of 'Dignissimus' (first claimant, as it were), went to the popular and steady V.C. This arrangement, so the story goes, was upset by the intervention of Archbishop Carr of Melbourne. Eventually the mitre was assigned to Dean Patrick Phelan, Adm. at St. Patrick's, Melbourne, appointed on 12 November 1912. Some time after this date Father 'Ned' walked off the Morwell Mission taking unto himself the housekeeper as his spouse. What had happened? Was it pique? Some make the claim that there was a dispute about diocesan boundaries. Financier, John Wren, set 'Ned' up in a hotel, somewhere in the vicinity of Galong. Some claimants say that the place of abode was Harden. Others, Murrumburrah. Others still, Jugiong. 'Leo Clifford' was the name in hotel life in this area or as some have suggested in New Zealand. My informants all have contradictory stories to tell about place of abode, about whether or not 'Ned' was reconciled to the Church. It's hardly the right thing for me to name them. Instead I thank them.
(Footprints, Vol. 2, No. 7)
Ref.: Sale Cathedral Archives.

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ANZCC research:
Possible marriage record: 15393/1913, Leo Clifford and Katherine Cross, Waverley;
Possible grave locations: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195210743/leo-clifford (Harden)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152755870/katherine-may-clifford (Liverpool)

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Licenses Transferred, Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 4 April 1913, p 4,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238949452:

At the meeting of the Metropolitan Licensing Court yesterday the following licences were transferred:— Brighton Hotel, Brighton-le-Sands, from Martha Caldwell to Leo. Clifford; [...]

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Hotel Transfers, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 July 1918, p 5,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15794206:

The Licensing Bench yesterday granted the following transfers:—Leo Clifford to Edward Francis, Hotel Brighton, Brighton-le-Sands, Rockdale; [...]

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Trouble at Harden, Gundagai Independent and Pastoral, Agricultural and Mining Advocate, 26 June 1919, p 2,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123640554:

There are now 15 patients in the emergency hospital at Harden. [...] There have been four deaths since Friday. These are Mrs. Pounsberry, Mr J. Pounsberry, Mr H. Foster, and Mr Leo Clifford, of the Grand Hotel. [...]