The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1879-12-31
pUGILISTIC PRESB
Fighting Over tho Selection of II Pastor for
reformed Presbyterian Cl,,rclt--Out-
rnGeOMs SGencs In u House Of MorsI,Iu.

Reformed Presbyterian Ch,,rcl,--Out
ragcous Scenes In IL House of Worship.
A special dispatch from Pittsburg
Pa, datcd December 22, says: "rhe
people in this city arc in II fever of cx-
citcmcnt to-day, owing to a tisticutl
fight which took place in the First
Presbyterian Church last night. Some
weeks ago the congregation voted for
a pastor, Rev. Ncvin Woodsidc rccciv-
ing lG7 votes, against ll6 for the other
candidates. a majority of the trus-
tees were bitterly opposed to Wood
side anu charges that his selection was
the result of illegal votes. A majority
OF the congregation were determined
that Woodsidc should be their pastor,
especially rs the call was sustained bv
the Prcsbytcry. An appeal was taken
to the Synod, and since then there
have been bitter quarrcls among the
members of the church. The Wood
side faction achieved triumph over
their enemies, and on one occasion,
Notwithstanding the existence of an
injuction restraining Woodsilc from
preaching until the appeal was dccid-
cu, gained admission TO tho church bv
strategy, and held the place all day.
and listened to Il sermon by the pastor
in the evening. Last night the quar-
rel cul minated in a free fight. There
were rumors during theday that scri-
Gus trouble was brewing. Both fac
tions were present in force, and there
was large attendance Of outsiders,
attracted by the prospect Of q row.
The trouble began early. Woodsiuc
wanted to preach, but his opponents
had another clergyman whom they
wished to preach. Both pastors waxctl
hot and excited. The spectators gave
vent to thir feelings in remarks de-
signed to encourage their favoritcs.
The trustees and Sunday-school teach
crs took sides and shouted cXcitcdly.
One OF the parsons cssayc1 to mount
tho r0strum, when he was seized bv
his antagonists and roughly hustled
from the steps. This led to a general
fight. 1t was thickcst round the altar,
but all over the church were heard
sounds of blows. Many Of the wo-
men screamed and iaitcd, but some Of
the strongcr-mindcd encouraged the
comDatantS with cheers. Two or three
males took advantage of tho confusion
to settle old scores among themselves.
| For quarter Of an hour the battle
ragged turiously. Heads were freely
| punched, eyes were blackcncd, arms
broken and women Knocked down.
The vclis and screams were frightlul.
The police were called in, and after
some difficulty, succeeded in uucllino
the riot. Several arrests were made.
The church this morning presents a
sorry appearance. Broken remnants
ofgas globes strcW the floor. Hymn
books and Bibles are scattered in all
directions, as if they had hccn used as
missiles, and IL large quantity of hair
| pins and bangs have Gcan gathered
up. The utmost Indignation prevails
IN church circles. The matter will be
investigated by the Prcsbytcry, and ii
is expected there will be some clerical
suspensions. The rival pastors were
in the thickcst Of the fray.
| Mark Twain is Il hcartIcss satirist
as well as a sort Of wag. Not long
ago he wrote 10 the Hartford C0u1uUt
making mouths at the Postmaster
General for insisting that the name OF
Il county should be used in addressing
Il letter. The other day Thomas Il.
Kirby, Mr.. Keys private secretary.
replied to Mr.. Clemens personally,
upbraiding him in what was intended
to be funny manner for the growl in
the COnrant. Now Mr.. Clemens, adj
dressing Kirby as "my callow fricnd,'
drcnchcs him with ink and pours a
whole quart of it down his throat. "I
was talking to the dog not to The TAIL"
says Mr.. Clemens; "iri stepped on this
tail it was not TO call the tails attcn.
ton to anything, but only to direct the
attention of the main body Of the ami
nal. 4on perceive that being pri,
vatc secretary, I was talking to the dc.
partmcnt, not to you-its irresponsible,
Inexpensive, unnecessary appendage." ;"
Mr.. Clcmcrs adds that when he rings q
bell his business isn't with tho bell, buI
with the owner Of it. Mr.. Kirby is
not the boot, but the bootjack; not th,
molasscs, but the blng Of the barrel
not the lightning, but the lightning-rod
A NOVEL CAsE.-Judgc G. s. Ham
mond, Of the United States Circui
Court, Memphis, had q novel cast
before him. j. G. birmingham, OF
Laudcrdalc county, Tenn, lad been
indicted for unlawlllly holding two
colorcd girls in slavery. 1t seem.
that Birmingham refused TO recognize
the abolition Of slavery, and ever since
the war has claimed to own the girls
because he owned their mother. Tho
conduct of Birmingham excited tho
Indignation ofhis neighbors, and a
their instigation the United States
grand jury recently found an indict
mcnt against him. Judge Hammond
quashcd the Indictment, holding thai
the act of Congress, which says thai
every person who kidnaps or carries
away any other person, with inten
that such other person be sold into
involuntary scrvitudc or held as 4
slave, shall be punished by fine o,
Imprisonment, could not apply to any
one holding or pretending to hold il
slavery in this country because O
slavery having been abolished. There
could be no slaves here, and therefore
no one could be held as slave. This
; tho Judge said, is an offcnsc not pro
vided for by any act Of Congress ant
not punishable by al indictment il
} tho Federal courts. The defendant
} was discharged.
General S. L. Woodford went tt
} Louisiana and told the Democracy tha
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