Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-02-20
Extraordinary Scene I'm n Church.

The Manchester Courier says: On
Sunday morning, the nth of January,
the service at the Irongate Cathedral,
at Albury, near Guildford, which was
erected at cost of 100000 by the
late Mr.. Henry Drummond, was inter
ruptei in somewhat alarming manner.
The service had proceeded to the read
ing of the prayers, when Captain Symes,
a member of the congregation, was OBJ
served to leave his seat. he at once
ascended the stairs and entered the pull
pit. Closing the door, he stretched
forth his hands and addressed the con-
gregation. He said he was commits
stoned by God to deliver a message
which would not be heard with favor.
At this iuncture several of'the church
officials rushed up thepulpit stairs aud
begged the gallant captain to desist.
The request was met by the captain
drawing a sword from sheath which
was concealed under his coat, and wa
wing it above his head, he said that if
any person iptertered with him in the
delivery of his message he would run
him through TO the heart. A preclpi-
tate retreat was made by the officials,
in the mean time Captain Symes pro-
ceeded 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, barrister- at-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, aud 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 con-
grecation screamed, and many Of them
tainted. The male portion Of the con-
pregation left their seats, and, assem-
bling in knots in the aisles OF the church,
called to Captain Symes to come down.
One gentleman undeterred by the in
Jury inflicted on Mr. Armstrong, ascen.
ded the pulpit stairs to eIpostulate with
the captain. The only reply be recei.
we'd 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 stair
case. During this scene .he Duke and
Duchess of Northumberland, who are
regular attendants of the church, left
their seats. The Duchess tainted, and
was carried from the church by her at
tendants. Captain Symes had now full
possession of the pulpit, aud, striking
the sword on the Bible, he was pro-
ceedlng in a loud tone to deliver what
he termed his message amid the scream
ing 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 scuffle succeeded 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
bound with it, hand and foot, and tied
to one of the pillars Of the building.
Mr. Inspector Parke, of the county po-
lice, was sent for and the captain was
given into bis charge. He was taken
almost Immediately before Mr.. r. Bray,
one OF the county magistrates. Two
surgeons were ordered to examine him
and on their certificates he was removed
to lunatic asylum.