The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-25
FIRST EDITIO N
C II / M E .

An Assassin In n Berlin CnthedrnI-Attempted
Murder of II Priest During Service.
The Berlin correspondent of the London
Times writes-
On Sunday, August 8, in the presence OF
numerous congregation, this sacrelgious scene
was enacted in the Cathedral Church of Berlin:
The Rev. H. Heinrich was standing before the
altar, reciting the Belief, when young man,
rising from a front seat and interruptng the
clergyman, gave him the lie, and at once dis
charged n pistol at his breast The next mo-
ment he was in the hands of the sexton, ana
quietly suffered himself to be led away to the
yestry. portion of the congregation, seated
at distance. having only heard the report ana
seen the Gu ling smoke, without any definite
notion of what was going on, Immediately
began to move towards the door, ana createu
considerable tumult; but those near Ihe
altar, who mad been witnesses OF the daring at
tempt retained their seats. In preserving their
composure they but initiated the noble example
of the clergyman whose life had Just Deen
placed in such jeopardy. The KEY: II. Hem
Tici was unhurt: nor had the moral hrlnness OF
the man whose body the ball had missed Oeen
shaken No sooner had the trying interlude,
the details of which seem to have been observed
with terrible distinctness by those near come 10
an end than the intended victim calmly resumed
reading the Creed, and with redoubled ierVor
fproclaimed that Belief the utterance OF which
had imperiled his Ii te. After this the service
was continued in accordance with the prescribed
ritual.
The Rev. H. Heinrich left the altar when the
Rev DIR. Kogel ascended the pulpitand preached
a sermon, in which he introduced passage eX-
pressive of his thanks to God Tor the miraculous
escape of his clerical brother. quiet had Deen
speedily restored, and the greater portion OF the
congregation, agitated as they were by the most
powerful emotions, left the church only alter
the final benediction.
In the meantime the criminal had been con-
Quoted by a policeman to the nearest station
and examined by a superior officer. 10 all the
questions put to him he replied with the utmost
frankness and cOmposure. lie sald:-
''My name is BLAND. ! am nineteen years OF
age. q Protestant, and the son OF n blacksmith,
in the Village of Lank, County OF Lower Bar
nim a few miles from Berlin. My parents sent
me to a grammer school, wishing me to become
a candidate for the ministry in the Established
Church, but my eyes were soon opened to the
falsehood of the creed was expected some day
to teach, and my dislike was increased to dls-
gust when | perceived that many OF those pro-
Tossing to believe it were liars ut heart. re-
fused to pursue a career which had become so
hateful to me- and resisted all attempts OF my
parents to force me to perseVere. ENentuany !
saw myself left by them to my own devices, anu
began to study art-the dramatic art, mean. l
wished to become an actor, and to preach to the
public in my own way; but the religious men
dacity rampant around me gave me no rest
Some / saw uttering deliberate untruths, Wnlie
Others knowing them to be Such, listened WIN
contemptuous indifference. Gradually taught
myself that some striking deed was lndlspensa-
BILE to rouse the public mind from its apathy and
chase away the mists OF superstition. L, Ihere-
fore, determined to seize the trst 1aVorape op-
portunity that offered for shooting clergyman
while in the act of uttering his accursed PERU
ries have done it. / have myself cast the
ball and done my best to render the shot fatal.
am sound in body and mind, and scorn the
suggestion that have acted under the disturb
ing influence of temporary insanity. l periectly
knew what was about, and am convinced there
are many able to comprehend the dlslnterested-
ness of my purpose, though they may, perhaps
not approve the method chosen to compass 1t
NV design was to shoot Mr.. Heinrich, and was
prepared to pay the penalty OF the deed.
Such in substance was the statement OF th'
reckless, misguided young man. inquiries seen
fully to confirm his words His having missed
Mt distance of three PAGES at first gave rise u
the surmise that he had fired with blank car
fridge; but it is only too true that there was
hall in the barrel The course of the ball ha
been exactly traced. Passing within an men o
the cIergymen's head, it penetrated the opel
balustrade of the gallery, in which the 10"
OhOy-celebrated for its vocal performances
was stationed and grazed the cheek OF one o
the choristers, a boy OF twelve. !he llttle lel
low although his cheek instantly began l.
swell did not leave the church, but sang III
allotted part to the end.
The event throws light upon the sad state c
religion in this country. / am afraid the prlsone
was right in suppOsing that many Will appTt
ciate his motive, though they Will aDhor III
deed. | have previously stated in these column
that three-fOurths of all educated men IN Gel
MANY are estranged from the dOglnatic teachin
of the Christian creed-estranged from 1t to III
extent of dsbelieving the sincerity OF many
the clergy. Only small fraction OF the natlo
attends divine service; the educated men, nor
especially, you meet in church on sunday, ar
few and far between.