The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-03-29
A SCENE IN A CHURCH.

The Cincinnati papers publish . long account of
a scene in church there, which is amusing, and
illustrates some of the peculiarities of Yankee re-
lipion. A man of wealth and leading member
of the Park Street Church, named Barnitz, had
tried to seduce a sister member, named Jacob.
Failing in his purpose he invented and circulated
numerous SANDERS respecting her. She brought
snit against him, laying her damages at $4,000.
The way the church tried to screen him, and his
persstency in repeating the SANDER are told in de-
tail Let us, however, give the denouemeut, which
is as follows
The satisfaction and justice which Miss Jacob
expected to receive in the court OF law being so
slow, she at once decided to take the law In her
hands, and in as public a manner as Mr. Barnitz
had traduced her name she proposed to summary
deal with him. Accordingly, on Thursday, Miss
Jacob purchased cowhide On her way home
she purchased quarter of a pound of Cayanne
pepper. Without imparting to any one her pur-
pose, she got up on Sunday morning as usual, took
Der breakfast, and then dressed for church.
She arrived at the chapel before the services
were commenced, and took a seat Immediately op-
posite to the one occupied by Mr. and Mrs Barnitz
MIR Barntz ho is the leader of the singing in the
church, observed Miss Jacob take a seat opposite
to him, and eye him closely. His eyes dropped,
and he Immediately appeared agitated. He did
not sing, the task being assigned to brother Hid
the congregation were their feet except MIR
Barnitz and Miss Jacob. They two only remained
seated The first one to kneel was Barnitz, COW
ering his face with both hands. AS soon as the
Rev Mr. Hitchcock had commenced his prayer,
Miss Jacob deliberately pulled the gloves from
her hands, and then untying the whip which was
under her cloak, drew it out, and walking over to
where Barnitz was kneeing, dealt five or six heavy
blows across his head face and hands, each stroke
sounding distinctly in every part of the house.
The minister ceased prayer, the congregation
rose to their feet, ard BarDtz, still on his knees,
raised up and seizing the cowhide, wrenched it
from her hand, and attempted to strike her, but
was prevented by Mr. Cunning, who grappled
his arm Miss Jacob then seized him by the hair
of the head with her left hand, and with her right
washed his face all over with Cayenne pepper, ex-
claiming, "Mack Barnitz, you are black-hearted,
cowardly villain, and this is for your lying. Then
turning to Mrs Barnitz, she said, "You wanted to
know what my mother was. She was decent
woman, and am not bastard; that is more than
you can say"
At this instant some person put bis hand over
her mouth when she took another handful OF pep
per and throwing it over ner shoulder at him, the
crowd. which were wont to press upon her, soon
beat a hasty retreat. A Mr. Rennick caught her
round the waist and pulled her toward the door.
Miss Jacob seeine Mr. Rennick, recognized in him
one of her prosecutors, and, turning upon him,
also washed his face with the pepper. The Rev
Mr. Marlay seated in the pulpit during all this
contretcmps. Before quiet was restored and the
services could go on more than half the congrega-
ton had left the church.