Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-10
BLESSING THE BELL.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY IN
PETERSBURG YESTERDAY.
An Address by Bishep Van dc vyyer.
An Interesting Rcminjsccncc Of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Notes.

PETERSBURG, VA. July o.--tSpe-
cial)-The interesting ceremony Of "pless-
Ing the bell" Of the new ST. Joseph's
Catholic church was performed this morn
Ing by Bishop Van de Vyver. OF the Do
cese Of Richmond, in the presence Of a
large assemblage. The ceremony occur
red in the yard adjoining the new edihce.
and was followed with an address by the
Bishop in his usual chaste style on the
significance OF the ceremony. and OF en-
couragemcnt 70 the Catholic congrega-
ton of this city on their noble work and
its gratifying progress. The bell which
was thus blessed weighs about two thou
sand pounds. IS OF fine tone. and was
the Gift of Mr.. w. y. Bangley. a citizen
of Petersburg. 1t Is expected that the
new church will be completed and ready
for occupation in the early fan. 1t will
certalyly be a beautiful edfce.
AN INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
The recent publication in the Dispatch
Of the arrest abroad OF the notorious
Little" Horace HOvan. one Of the most
successful as well as famous crooks
H. this country. rcviVCs interesting remin-
Petersburg. some years ago. New
York banker had been robbed of about
elp00O0 OF government and other bonds,
MI worth more than their face value,
md detectives had followed the supposed
thieves through the country. They were
,nally traced 20 and located IN Petersburg.
rooms at Jarratts Hotel Ex-Governor
William r.. Cameron was then Mayor.
md Matthias Peterson, brother Of the
h,s. l. Pot brave "A
IND as gallant q soldier as ever lived.
vas Chief Of Police. Captain Peterson
naving located the party-four men ana
,nc~woman (and. by the way. this woman
MAS Kate Doherty, AZ mentioned in the
DlspatchJ--he boldly demanded and gained
admission 10 the room, attended by TWO
NJ tire" trusted officers, all with weapons
sraWn. They expected resistance from
such a desperate crowd and went pre-
pared for II. They found the party
seated about table as though preparing
% divide their spells. and the latter, In
he presence Of such an armed force,
yielded. but not without protest. 1hey
we're taken to jail, and In TIN poA
which they had was found the tuii
amount of the stolen bonds intact Inc
prisoners lived for several weeks In the
IAN on the fat OF the land, and the
bonds were returned TO the owner. Ihe
leader of this gang was Horace Hovan
and his pals were equally notorious
crooks. Kate Doherty was In jail with
them They were subsequently taken 10
New York but strange 10 say, under
the compromises there made every one
Of the party finally escaped.
THE STREET RAILWAY IN COURT.
As is well known 20 the public, the Pc
fersburg street railway and the PETERS
burg and Asylum railway have Tor some
L.. tau e
coiver Robert Gillian. The Hastings
Court was engaged to-day in hearing
argunent Of counsel on objections filed TO
Tho report OF the commissioner. Mr. X.
D. Gillian. In the suit OF tne FARMERS
Loan and Trust Company vs.. the com
paDy. The question at issue Is the pfi-
Drity of certain liens upon the property
Of the road. In his report Commissioner
Gillian placed the dues for taxes ana
for labor and supplies in the fifth class.
This action Of the Commissioners was
resisted on the ground that these debts
constitute n prior lien. The Farmers
Loan and Trust Company are trustees
under two deeds and the point was also
argued as g. which deed was entitled TO
priority.
a WORTHY YOUNG MAN DEAD.
Mr. Arthur Williamson. aged about -
wears. son Of Mr. G. r. Williamson, died
somewhat suddenly this afternoon. He
had been sick for Some time, but his de-
mise was altogether unexpected.
PERSONAL AND GENERAL.
Mr. G. S. Dowance, for the past four
years the efficient secretary Of the Young
Mems Christian Association, of this city
has resigned his Office. and will engage
i'm other business elsewhere.
Mr. John B.Davis and Mr. Charles ii.
Cuthbert. Two of our Oldest and best
known citizens are critically III.
The store of the Petersburg District Al
lance. on Sycamore street ana OF Mr..
Workman. on Franklin street. have both
been robbed in the past two nights. The
stores were entered by breaking the glass
] Windows.