The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-02-20
The ASSASSIN AT THE ALTER.


the shrine.
London Times
The Church Of st. Peter, Hatton gar
den, on Saturday morning had been de-
corated for the lestivalsof Christmas and
the Epiphany, and the 10 o'clock mass
was being celebrated by Father Bakano-
wski, Polish priest. Just at the elevation
Of the host q pistol-sh0t was fired at the
priest by a man iii the body of the
church, and the bullet lodged in the
alter The acolyte who was serving mass
Immediately fled into the sacristy and
locked the door behind him, SO that the
priest in following was unable to enter.
Here his assailant fired two more shots.
The priest then sought refuge by going
behind the alter, where he was followed
by the would-be murderer and succeeded
III getting roundto the frontoi the church
and thereby succeeded III making his
escape. Two more shots were fired after
him, one of them piercing the back Of a
chair. The man rushed to the back Of
the alter, and seizingsome of the massive
candlesticls dashed them to the ground,
breaking them into fragments, then
went up the alter steps and wrenched
away the door and framework, OF the
tabernacle, and then seized the pyX and
1
much as he could. Not content with this,
he brought out the ciboriuin, which con-
tanned about three hundred consecrated
hosts. The alter linen and antc-pendium
were ignited either ythe falling candles
/ which he tore from the aller or by the
man setting fire to them with matches. a
\ supply Of which was afterward found in
his possession. The ante-pendium was a
beautiful work Of art, worth at least El50.
The debris OF the broken glass candles.
metal and woodwork WAS scattered all
n over the chancel Tho Incidents thus
described were the work Of few mo-
mefits.
The miscrcant was running from the
II sanctuary when he was met in the nave
hy the Rev. II. " ArlSell, who, having
heard several shots fred, ran into the
church to ascertain the cause Of vi0-
lent ringing Of the bells Mr.. ArlSell was
also fred at, bur he seized hold Of both
arms Of his assailant and took from him
revolver. Notwithstanding the efforts
of.the man to stab the priest in the chest
with large stiletto knife, by the aid o
of the housekeepcr elizabeth Brooks
the desparado was secured, but not with
out having cut Brooks 4 good dead abou
the hands. 1t is estimated that altogether
some hundreds Of pounds loss will b,
! sustained.
/. At the Clerkenwell police court Alex
ander Schossia, describing himself as Al
asphaltcr, 80 years Of age, was charge,
with discharging loaded pistol with in
tent 10 cause erievous bodily harm Il
Adolphus Bakanowski, with attempting
TO stab Henry Vincent Arlxell and witt
setting fire to the church and committin
willful damage. The prisoner is pow
I erful- Hooking man, of medium stature.
/ The Rev. Henry Vincent Arkell dc
\ posed that the prisoner was an utte
j stranger 10 him. He was not aware tina
J he had ever seen him before that morn
Z ing He could not say what motive tn
prisoner had for what he did He aI
!. peared sober, and witness did not hea
I him use any threats.
The charge was read to the prisoner
E who replied in English; II intended
E kill the priest"
Z Inspector Bowles said that the damag
. TO the church exceeded 81 900. II
) asked for aremand for inquiries to b
made.
a The prisoner, who had more than ono
= said that he did not understand wha
: was being said against HIM and wante
1 an interpreter, was ordered TO be rs
:. mended, the surgeon of the house of dc
D tention TO report as TO the state Of hi
I mind