The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-01
TO KILL THE BISHOP.
A Fanatic Fires a Murderous Shot in
Church.
Attempt to A~-asstnate BIsiaop Whitta-
ker I'm the Presence OF % Phiiadci-
phia Congregation.


An attempt TO nssassinate Bishop OH w.
Whitaker, OF the Episcopal diocese OF east
ern Pennsylvania, was made sunday night
~ DAVID Alexander. u monomaniac on the
subject Of prohibition. while the bishop was
conducting confirmation services in u.
Johns Protestant Episcopal Church, corner
OF ~. John and Buttonwood streets, Pniia-
dclphia. The shot whizzed close 10 the
the bishops head, and before the men could
iire again he was seized by David Me-
CrrighL and several others OF the
congregation and taken out 10 the yestibule
OF the Church. lie was handed over 10 IA
oliccman and taken 10 the seventh District
station House. IL was az first thought that
Alexander. who T. only youth 0f twenty
wears. bad intended 10 Kill DIR. Littimer, the
rector OF ~. Johns Church. lie was with
in the chancel with Bishop Whitaker, and
had Just finished reading the psalter. The
congregation was standing, Bishop Whitta-
ker was near the communion table. The
candidates for confirmation had not Yet taken
their places when Alexander, who was IN
the third seat from the alter, took pistol
from his pocket. aimed deliberately at
the bishop and hred. just before he pulled
the trigger the bishop stepped 10 one side
and the bullet missed him. DIR. Lattimer
had seen the young man lire at the bishop,
but the latter did not see him at all. The
services were interrupted for time, but
there was no screaming or fainting among
tile women. Order was soon restored
Bishop Whitaker took the services where
they had been interrupted, and the eight
candidates for confirmation received the rite.
IL wa, not until after service that Bishop
Whitaker was informed by DIR. Lattimer
that the shot had been fired at him. lie ex-
pressed surprise. and said he had not noticed
the young man at all.
Alexander boards at 1880 Parish street.
and until last Friday he was employed ~ "a
clerk In Strawbrdge a. Co.'s large retail
store. lie resigned his place then, he says,
In order not 10 bring disgrace upon the
house by being connected with IL when he
killed Bishop Whitaker. lie was seen to-
night in his cell. lie does not look day
over his age. lie is OF slight build, u
rather pale face, has blonde hair, and his
restless blue eyes denote considerable nery-
Gus energy. When asked what he had gone
10 the church for. he replied:
'why, 10 Kill Bishop Whitaker OF
course. Why did want 10 Kill himy BE-
cause he l. vile hyprocrte and opposed TO
prohibition. Why should anybody want
20 Kill man who loves the rumsclers aud
sends thousands Of widows and orphans
down 10 their graves: The beginning OF
this trouble was last April, during the pro-
hbItion campaign. AZ that time Bishop
Ryan wrote letter In favor OF high license
and against prohibition. The next Sunday
| went To hear Bishop Whitaker preach to
the church at Twenty -hrst and Christian
streets. lie said IN his sermon that high license
and prohibition were questions which each
christian would have To settle for himself
with his conscience. ! then wrote him
letter asking Inn how he could reconcile his
declaration with the teachings OF the SER
mons. lie sent me "A long reply, within was
not satisfactory. soon after that saw an
interview i'm the Press with Bishop Whit
takcr In which he Endorsed Archbishop
Ryan's letter. When | saw that ! knew IL
the prohibtlonists were defeated Bishop
Whitaker would be responsible, and then
vowed that would kili him IL the rum SELL
ers trumphed.'