I finally uncovered an old (early 2001) email that was the code review request for the change which added PreferredClassLoader's extra retrieval of the first JAR file without using the "jar:" URL handler-- but the explanation it contains does not make sense to me. I'm now inclined to think that we should just remove the extra retrieval, simplifying this rather confusing code (and obviating the original need for the RIVER-9 change).
-- Peter
