The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-12-28
Struck by a Sexton.

The New York World of this morning
says: At vespers last Sunday at st.
Louis Catholic church, corner of Nc
Kibben and Leonard streets, Williams
burgh, Vending Frevele, who has
charge of the children that attend this
service every Sunday, assaulted Miss
Mary Joss without provocation. 1t is
the custom in the church that the older
members of the congregation shall seat
themselves in the forward pews while
the benches near the door are occupied
by the children and the center by mid
dle-aged and other members of the
church who, as the congregation put it.,
are able to take care of themselves. At
the conclusion of the service the persons
in the forward seats are expected to pass
out in this manner, the last portion to
go being the children in the rear seats.
On Sunday evening Miss Joss, accom-
panied by two ladies', entered the church
and took seat little forward OF the
children. When she entered Frevele
objected TO her going forward and or
dered her to take seat among the chill
dren. Miss Joss, who is nineteen years
of age, considered herself capable of be-
having in proper manner, and said
that she would sit where she pleased.
When the service was over Miss Joss be-
ing in hurry, started to pass out with
those Of the congregation near her,
when Frevele abruptly ordered her to
keep her seat. She paid no attention to
him and kept on her way towards the
door of the pew. When near the door
Frevele roughly pushed her back in her
seat. When the whole congregation OF
grown people had passed out Frevele
gave his consent to her leaving
the church. She rejoined her
friends who had been waiting for her
near the door of the church and remarked
to them that the "man's mind must be
wandering" Frevele, who had watched
her, overheard the remark, which so
angered him that he struck her on the
side of the face with his fist. The as
sault was Witnessed by many persons
conversing in the vestibule.
Miss joss was advised by many OF her
friends to have Frevele arrested at once,
but she refused to do so, believing that
he would apologize. This he did not do
although asked to do so by several of the
officers of the church. Upon her ar
rival at her home, No. 228 Throop
aNcuuc, MISS OOSo ICldtcu VIC
stances to her father who had the man ar
rested the next morning on complaint of
his daughter. Miss Joss was called
upon by a reporter last evening. She
was reluctant to speak of the matter. II
do not understand why Mr.. Frevele
should treat me in this manner" said
Miss Joss. 81 have never had any &C.
quaintance with him whatever, and can
not SEQ why he should hold grudge
against me, for believe he acted as he
did because of some imagined past
grievance. i have many witnesses who
can testify that behaved as any young
lady should in the church in which she
worships." Frevele, it is claimed, says
that the young lady was intoxicated and
used most abusive language. This,
however, has been proved untrue, as
any one near the young lady and her
companions can testify. The officials of
the church have excused Frevele from
further duty in the church until such
time as his innocence can be proven.
The case will come up before Justice
Necher on Friday next.