The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-04-22

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A SCENE IN CHURCH.-AHempted Reuenge on a Fs
Halc.--Sunday night, soon after the services CON-
menced at the Episcopal Mission Church, corner
OF South Third street and Union Avenue, a young
man entered, and after carefully viewing the con-
gregatiGn, walked up to young lady in the choir,
whose name is Frances J. Bennett, and drawing a
dagger, made desperate. though unsuccessful ef
fort 10 plunge ii into her breast She screamed.
and las a second effort was being made by the TEL
low to carry ont bis awful object. some gentlemen
interfered, and held him until Inspector MulIju
appeared and secured him. The name of this
wOuid-be murderer is Josiah Newman, and it is
supposed that he attempted to take Miss Bennett s
life on account Of some love troubles. His charac-
ter Is said to be good, aud his conduct is almost
inexplcable though ii can be traced to no other
than the above named Cause
As far as can he learned, Mr. Newman, who lives
in Now York, foil, some time since, i'm love with
Miss Bennett, who did not feel like reciprocating
his attachment He pressed his suit, however, un-
til tho lady, growing indignant ordered him to
leave her house never again to enter. The fir t
she saw of him after this, was when he made the
attempt upon her life. Since his arrest he does
nothing but cry, and when told that the least time
he could he sent to prison for his crime was six
months, he remarked amidst tears. d" | don't care
il go up for year; I'll love her Just as much as
ever" lie says that he only intended to kill her
out of love, so that else could have her.-NetU
loIk Express.
CONVERSION OF AN Actress Her % 'Erperience y
The Boston Bee says that Miss Lucy Hamilton an
English actress, performing on the Boston boards,
has been converted, and lately treated a prayer
meeting to touch OF her experience, as follows :
She was going home frorI the theatre one night
with her sister, also an actress. aud while passing
a church was attracted by hearing rome one ex-
horting iD a loud way. After a while she went ill.,
her sister would not. The next night, not being
cast in play, she visited the church instead OF
the theatre. Her heart was moved. She became
convinced that she great sinner that the
theatre was bad place that it was her duty to
abandon the stage. This thought haunted her
ceaselessly. She continued to play for a while but
her heart was not in her vocation. At length her
mind became so much disturbed that she left the
theatre aud "sought peace in Christ" She de-
stroyed her stage wardrobe and eschewed Shaks
peare and Bourcicault. Her friends endeasore 10
convince her that she was foolish and all that :
but TO no effect. She persevered and finally found
peace. SiGce then she has been "a happy woman
and advises everybody to follow her example,
During her remarks she took occasion to express
an opinion that theatre was exceedingly bad
place-in fact, no other than 1.-The gateway to
hell" She knew whereof she spoke. aud feeling
ly warned her bearers not to attend them. The in
fuence of the theatre, she felt sure, was baneful
to the morals and piety of people,and none could
attend the one and have the other. She closed by
testiying to the satisfaction and peace there is in
Il religious life.