The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-02-24
4 Lunatie In. a Pulpit.

a correspondent Ct tho London
Daily Nows, writos to that journa
January Goth On Sunday mora
ing the service at Irtipglte cathsdra
ut Albury, nbar Guilford-a build
! ing which was ereoted at. a cost O
100000 by tho late Mr.. sHenr,
Erummond--was Interrupted in
somewhat alarming manner. Th,
service had proceeded to the readin,
Of tho prayers, when tapt. Symes,
memter ofthe congregation, .whs %
served " sente his scat. Hc,at orc,
ascended tho stairs and entered til,
pulpit. Closing tho door, he stretch
cd forth his hands and addressed the
congregation. Ho said he VAS com.
missi ssioued.by.God to deliver d wes
sage. which would not 10 heard With
/ favor. At this juuoture several Of
the church officials rushed up the
pulpit stairs, and begged tho gallau.
captain to desist. The request was
met by tho captain drawing a. sword
from a ,pheath, which was concealed
upde or his coat. land waving it above
hH head, he said that, if any person
intcrfered with him in tho delivery
of his message, he would run him
through to the heart. A preoipitato
retr9at was male by the officials, and
in the meantime Captain Symes pro.
ceeded to address the congregation,
warning them that it vas his duty to
tell them that psrdition was their
fate if they continued III their present
faith. Mr. Armstrong, barrister at
law, and an Intimate friend Of Capt..
sJ mes, loft, his scat, aud, rupiibg up
the pulpit 4tair,,, begged him 10
come dowp. The captain raised his
sword. aud striking Mr.. Armstrong
across tho hand, nearly cut off ono of
bio fingers. The alarm caused by this
eSttaordipary coudupt was very grsut
The ladies f.. tie .oongtegstion
screamed, and many of them tainted.
The male portion Of the congregation
ieft, THUR seats and assembling in
knots in knots in the aioles Of the
church, called to Capt. Symcs to
come dvwn. Ono gentlpmun undeter-
r.d by the injury Inflicted ou Nj.
Armsk krong. .asaeuded tho pulpit stairs
IPn expostulata with tho captain
The only reply he received was she
presentation vt his head of. a loaded
revolver. Hearing :the "click" of
the weapon, he slid down tho stairs
on his back and hid behind the stair
case. During this scene the Duke
and Durhyss Of Northumberland.
who are, regular attendants. Of; the
church, leEt tEeir seats. The Ouch.
sss tainted, and was carried from the
church by her attendants. Capt.
Symes had now full pnssesaiou. Of tho
pulpit, and, striking the swprd on tho
bible, he proceeded in loud tone to
deLivef what he termed his message,
smidst tho shtesming of the females
snd vociferous o.lls to "conlt down"
of the malos. The officials of thy
church had by this time armod them
solves viii long poles, and with
these thoy went into the pulpit, and,
after ,tSe.m mendous scuflls, sucoesding
in knocking the sword and revolver
out of the', ,hands Of the captain.
Thoy then laid hold Of him and drag.
ged him down the pulpit stairs. As
The captain violently resisted, u rope.
was procured, aud with it he =. Vas
bound hand aud foot, and tied to one
of the pillars Of :he, bGildiHg. lie
was subsequently, given il sharGe to
tho polfce, and on the following day
was .tr.susbt before magistrate. On
the certificates of two Surgeons no
was removed to a lunutio asylum.