The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-01-05

CHuRCH BUnNED.-About IL o'clock Wed
nesday night, the 2nd inst, the First Bap
tist Church, situated il. the upper portion
OF Smoke Bend settlement, was discovered
to be on fire, and although large crowd
OF people quickly gathered in response te
the outcry raised, it was at once manifest
that nothing could be done to save the
building from destruction. The flames be-
came more violent every moment and when
the large structure was fully enveloped the
spectacle was quite imposing. The devour-
ing element did its work rapidly. and in &
very short space of time che church and the
small parsonage in the rear were mass OF
smouidering ruins. The congregation of
this church, composed Of colered people,
recently had rupture not unlike the one
which has SO long disturbed the harmony
OF our Catholic community. Rev. Jacob
g. Warner, the old pastor who had been in
charge many years, was deposed and eject
ed by hostile board of trustees, and as he
had the support of large portion of the
congregation, the action of the board pro-
voked much excitement and i'll feeling. A
custodian or Waterman WAS employed by
tho trustees to guard the property, and the
man was asleep in the parsonage when the
fire broke out, being awakened by some of
the persons who were first upon the scene.
it 10 claimed that indubitabie evidence Of
the uae of coal oil to start the fire was dis
covered, indicating that the condagration
vas the work of an incendiary, and suspi-
cion naturally directed itself towards the
deposed preacher and his adherents in
search OF the author or authors of the sup
posed crime. Isaac johnson, president of
the board Of trustees, made an affidavit be-
fore Justice Bush charging Rev. Warner,
Gilbert Rraud, Raphael Lewis, Alexander
Nolan. Richard Nolan, Antoine Goodman,
Betsey Goodman and Josiah Brown will, ar
SON, and all the accused were apprehended
and conveyed to the parish jail District
Judge Oheevers assumed charge Of the case
yesterday, and on the motion of Mr.. Fred. |
Dunel, attorney for accused, directed that |
the prisoners be permitted to furnish bail |
In the sum of $500 each to appear when no.
tiled. Mr.. Warner and two others secured
bondsmen last evening and were released
1uss after their Incarceration. The remain
ing accused were baiied to-day. So far as
We can learn, the evidence against the de-
PENDANTS is purely cifcumstantial and con-
sists mainly of threats alleged to have been
made by some of the parties that the church
would be destroyed. It is due to Elder
Warner and most of his co-defeadants to
say that they bear excellent regulations and
that only the most conclusive proof of their
guilt can induce unbiased people who know
them to believe that they indeed committed
the grave crime with which they stand &C
eased. We Judge the value of the property
destroyed to be about $1,000, and believe it
was uninsured. new bell recently pro-
cured for the church was melted by the
heat and il total loss. It was purchased
in Cincinnati and cost about SIG, inclu-
ding freight. We sympathize with the cor :,
zregatioa IN the heavy financial loss thew II
have sustained, but hope that they will be ]
sSie IL rebuild their church in the near flu
.ure end that their present factional dis
agreements viii be adjusted by mutual for !
,earanee and concession. {