Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-29
A Ngufderous Iconoclast.

Making Havoc fn a ROmish Church
 Frying to XIII the Priests and Destroy
 ing the Equipments of the AItar-thc
 Mad Freak of a German i'm London.
 From the London Standard.l
 The greatest excitement was created on Sat urday morning at the Italian church, Hatton Garden, owing to an attempt being made bya man named Alexander Schossa, a German, about thirty years of age, who described him. self as an asphalt worker to murder two priests. The man was observed to enter the church about 1915 o'clock, during the per formance of service, and placing himself i'm. mediately in front of the altar, called out in g loud voice, 'tAll you go away" at the same time firing revolver at the priest at the altar, who had his back turned to him. The priest, naturally alarmed, endeevored to make his cape, the would-be assassin followed and fired two other shots in rapid succession. Fortu- nately, the reverend gentleman was more alarmed than injured, although he had a very narrow escape, the first shot passing close to his ear. Failing in his attempt. and being left to himself, the congregation having has- tened from the church in alarm, Schossa mounted the altar steps, and turning round to man named O'Donnell, who was awaiting the opportunity to seizs him-he pointed the revolver at him and said, "You go away" and at once began to throw down the adorn- ments of the altar, one after the other, smashing some of them to atoms The can-
 
 communicated to the valuable altar cloths, and the consternation increased as the fire spread. Breaking open the tabernacle door, the man turned his attention to the chaice, which he hurled to the ground with much force, rendering it useless for further service. He then overturned the large iron candlestick, six feet high, and pulled down the throne, which was erected for special service on the following day, doing damage in all to the ex- tent of about S100. By this time another priest came on the scene, and the man seeing him, left the altar and made his way toward him. when the priest seized him, just as he was about to use the poniard, and, getting the best of the struggle, Schossa was finally se- cured by the police and taken to Clerkenwell Police Court.
 Later in the day, Schossa was placed in the dock and charged with attempted murder, &e, at the Italian church. He is of rather short stature, fair, and of morose countenance and his face was much cut and bruised in his endeavors to free himself from his captors. He gave his name as Alexander Schossa, a German, his occupation as that of an asphalt worker, and his address, No. 37, Great Saf- iron Hill. In reply to the magistrate, he said that he sSdid not understand much English. I" The following evidence was then adduced James O'Donnell said: was in the Italian church, Hatton Garden, at 10 o'clock this morning. Service was being performed, when the prisoner suddenly entered, with his hat on, snoutlng, All you go away !! lie placed himseh at the foot of the sanctuary, and de- hberately pointed pistol at the priest, who had his back turned to him. The priest, hear ing the report of the pistol at once endeayor ed to make his escape by the side entrance of the church. and as he was doing so the pris- oner fired again. There were not more than two persons in the church at the time. By this time he had mounted the steps of the alter, and shouted out, You scoundrel, come down. Instead of doing 50, he turned around, with Q pistol in one hand and a dagger in the | other, and observed, 'You go away. Imme- diat ely afterward he commenced to demolish the altar, and after breaking the tabernacle door. threw the chslice on the floor. Proceed | ing to the back of the altar he threw down | the large candlestick, six feet high, and set | fire to the altar-cloth. He then made his way ! down to the middle of the church, where he