The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-02-12
Extraordinary Scene in a Church.

The Manchester Courier says: rOn
Sunday morning, the 18th of January,
the service at the Irongate Cathedral, at
Albury, near Guildford, which was
erected at a cost of 100000 by the late
Mr.. Henry DrummOnd, was interrupt
ed in somewhat alarming manner. The
service had proceeded to the reading of
the prayers, when Captain Symes,
member of the congregation, was OBJ
served to leave his seat. He at once as
cended the stairs and entered the pulpit
Closing the door, he stretched forth his
hands and addressed the congregation
He said he was commissioned by God to
deliver a message which would not be
heard with favor. At this juncture sew
eral of the church officials rushed up the
pulpit stairs and begged the gallant cap
tain to desist. The request was met by
the captain drawing sword from a
sheath which was concealed under his
coat, and, waiving it above his head, he
said that if any person interfered with
nun III VIC oGlANClg VI AAS AhGSStiSS IlC
would run him through to the heart. A
precipitate retreat was made by the Off
cials, and in the meantime Captain Symes
proceeded to address the congregation,
warning them that it was his duty to
tell them that perdition was their fate if
they continued in their present faith.
Mr.. Armstrong a barrister-at-la law, and
an intimate friend of Captain Symes,
left his seat, and running to the pulpit
stairs begged him to come down. The
captain raised his sword, and striking
Mr.. Armstrong across the hand nearly
severed one of his fingers. The alarm
caused by this extraordinary conduct was
very great The ladies of the congrega-
tion screamed, and many of them faint
ed. The male portion of the eongrega-
tion left their seats, and, assembling in
knots in the aisles of the church, called
to Captain Symes to come down. One
gentleman undeterred by the injury in
hicted on Mr.. Armstrong, assembled the
pulpit stairs to expostulate with the cap
tain. The only reply he received was
the presentation at his head of loaded
revolver. Hearing the click of the
weapon he slid down the stairs on his
back, and hid behind the staircase. Dur
ing this scene the Duke and Duchess of
Northum berland, who are regular at
tendants of the church, left their seats.
Tho n11ohaco f,infoI and r,oI
from the church by her attendants. Cap
tain Symes had now full possession of
the pulpit, and, striking the sword on
the Bible, he was proceeding in a loud
sage amid the screaming of the females
and the vociferous calls to "come down"
of the men. The officials of the church
had by this time armed themselves with
long poles, and with these they went to
the pulpit, after a severe scuflle succeed
ed in knocking the sword and revolver
out Of the hands of the captain. They
then laid hold of him, and lugged him
down the pulpit stairs. A rope being
procured he was bounded with it, hand
and foot, and tied to one of the pillars
of the building. Mr.. Inspector Parke,
of the county police, was sent for and
the captain was given into his charge
He was taken alost Immediately before
Mr.. r. Bray, one Of the county magis-
trates. Two surgeons were ordered to
examine him and on their certificates he
was removed to lnnatic asylum"