The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-01-17 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE IN A
CATHOLIC CHURCH.

In London, on Saturday, at the Clerkenwell Police-
court, Alexander Schoesha, describing himself as an as-
phalter, 35 years of age, and giving his addrese as 37.
Great Saffron-hill, was charged with discharging a
loaded pistol inside the Italian Church, Hatton-
garden, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to
Adolphus Balcanowski, a priest; with attempting to
stab Henry Vincent Arkell, and with setting fire to
the church and committing wilful damage. The
prisoner, who was placed at the bar after the hearing
of the remand cases, is a powerful-looking man, of
medium stature, and is stated to be of German birth.
Inspector Bowles, G Division, in charge of the cue,
called the witnesses, there being no person present to
conduct the prosecution.
James O'Loghlen, a labourer, living in Boswell.
court. Bloomsbury, deposed that he was present at
the Italian Church, that morning, Saturday. Low
mass was being celebrated, and the father was at the
altar. Witness saw the prisoner enter the church.
He looked at the father at theAltart and then told the
persons who were kneeling and praying to "go away."
There were only about a "couple of dozen" persons
in the church. The prisoner walked up to the altar
rails, and witness who was kneeling, heard two shots
fired. The father ran to the door within the altar,
and the prisoner walked up the steps towards him and
fired again. The priest ran from the altar down the
steps and across the church to a door, where he escaped.
The prisoner turned as the priest ran, and went after
him, firing a fourth and a fifth time. All the
' people were frightened, and nobody went to the pri-
soner ; but witness called out to him to come down.
The prisoner, however, did not do so, but rushed back
to the altar and seized the candlesticks, which he
threw down. He threw the cups about, broke open the
gateway of the "tabernacle," and threw the candles,
which were alight, upon the ground. Witness went
towards him, and again called to him to come down.
The prisoner turned to him and held up a knife, say-
ing You go away." Witness ran back, and the
prisoner then left the altar and made a rush at Mr.
Arkell with the knife, Mr. Arkell caught hold of
him and they had a struggle. The police had then come
and the prisoner was held by several persons. The
police took a pistol (produced) and a dagger (also pro-
duced) from him, and he was removed.
The Rev. Adolphus Bakanowski, a Polish priest,
said that he officiated at the church in question. That
morning, shortly after ten o'clock, he was celebrating
low mass. He was at the high altar, behind the altar
rails. He suddenly heard a pistol shot, and turning
saw the prisoner presenting a revolver at him. There
was a second shot, and witness ran to the sanctuary
door, but it was locked. Witness ran down the steps
and across the church, and then there was a third shot.
Witness escaped through a doorway. He could not
say whether the prisoner fired more than three times.
He did not hear any more after he escaped.
The prisoner, who had been formally asked whether
he wished to put any questions to this or the previous
witness, said that he did not understand English.
The magistrate said he should not allow an in-
terpreter, for the prisoner had spoken in English more
than once,
The Rev. Henry Vincent Arkell deposed that he
was one of the priests attached to the church in
question, and resided at the Preabytery adjoining.
Witness was in his room, which communicated with
the sanctuary, about a quarter past ten o'clock that
morning, when he heard the sound of firing. He was
certain he heard three shots, but might have heard
more. An acolyte ran in to witness and told him
that the priest had been shot. Witness ran to the
altar, passing through the sacristy door. The prisoner
was then coming up the sacristy steps' and on seeing
witness presented a revolver at him. Witness jumped
over the railings of the altar and ran into the body of
the church. He then saw the prisoner ascending the
steps to the high altar, and presently saw the altar-
cloth in flames. He could not say how it was set en
fire, or whether the prisoner deliberately did it, While
the altar was burning the prisoner threw down the
candlesticks, breaking them by deliberately dashing
them on the pavement of the altar. He then came
down towards witsiess and seemed very quiet.
Witness got hold of him by both wrists. The pri-
soner struggled to release his left hand, in which he
had a stiletto. The police were then in the church,
and some of them seized the prisoner. He had a re-
volver and the stiletto in his hands. Witness, when
the prisoner was secured, assisted in putting out the
fire on the altar. The chalices and candlelabra were
broken, and the brass door leading to the altar was
also broken.
In reply to the Court, the witness said the prisoner
was an utter stranger to him. He was not aware that
ho hod ever mew him bofo•o +ha* irnniminct Ha "nm
not say what motive the prisoner had for what he did-.
He appeared sober, and witness did not hear him use
any threats.
Police-constable Rose, 272 G, said that at 10.30 that
morning he received information and went, in conse-
quence to the Italian Church. He heard the sound of
shots. Having got the assistance of another constable,
he entered the church. The prisoner was then on the
altar, and witness saw three shots fired ty him, but
could not see at whom he was aiming. The altar was
then in flames. When the prisoner was seized, he
struggled and made a blow at witness with a knife.
He was secured, and the knife, or dagger, and revolver
taken from him. After he had been removed to the
police-station he was search° i and nine cartridges were
hund upon him. They fitted the revolver. Five
cases of cartridges, corresponding, were in the chambers
of the revolver.
The charge was read to the prisoner, who replied in
English, "I intended to kill the priest."
Police-constable DirCarthy, 46 G, gave corroborative
evidence, adding that he saw the prisoner throw down
the candlesticks. He also saw him make a blow with
the dagger at the priest. The prisoner was assaulted
by the persons in the church,
Police-constable Coarsens, 98 G, R., deposed to
having subsequently examined the church and found
bullet marks on and about the high altar • also in the
door through which the Rev. Mr. Bakanowksi es-
caped, and in the back of a chair.
Inspector Bowles said that he had been informed
that the damage to the church exceeded £l,OOO. He
asked for a remand for inquiries to be made.
The prisoner, who had more than once said that he
did not understand what was being said against him,
and wanted an interpreter, was ordered to be remanded,
the surgeon of the House of Detention to report as to
the state of his mind.