The herald., 1895-03-13
A Priest Has an Unpleasant
Time During Mass
TROUBLE OF OLD STANDING
A Church Disagreement That Resulted
in q Riot
Followers Of Bishop scannell In Nebraska
Object Very Forcibly to New
Religious Adviser

Omaha, March 12.-During early morn
ing mass at st. PauPs Roman Catholic
Church today party OF Poles, formerly
members of the congregation but ousted
by Bishop Scannell, entered the church
and attempted to take possession. Father
karminskl, who was saying mass, resisted
the attempt to capture the church, and
one of the invading party opened fire.
Father Karminski drew revolver and
fired into the attacking party, and after
long fusilade the invaders Withdrew, leav-
ing their wounded in the church.
Those wounded were +. Dargaczewskl,
shot through both legs; John kosicka,
shot through knee; Joseph linda, one OF
the priests supporters, stabbed and beaten
over the head. The police were sum-
moned, and after a hard fight took pos
session of the church.
The trouble was the outgrowth OF dis
sensions which have torn the church for
two years. Bishop Scannell was removed
as priest in charge in spite of the protests
of leading men of the congregation and
the matter was carried into court.
Three weeks ago the District Court de-
cided that the Bishop should have posses
sion, and the trouble was supposed to be
ended.
When the officers arrived on the scene
this morning they found an Infatuated
mob surrounding the church building,
and it was necessary to fight way into
the building. There they found the priest
in full possession, backed by five altar
boys and two wounded men lying in an
aisle.
More trouble is feared and another bat
talon of police has been sent to the
neighborhoOd OF the church.
Although the attack was a surprise to
the priest, something OF the kind had
been expected for some time and he had
arranged a signal to call his supporters
around him when it should occur. This
signal was the ringing OF thechurch bells:
The enemy was aware of this fact, and
when the attack was made the men
pulled the ropes OF the bell outside and
had tied them to fence. Priest kar-
minski discovered this, and after closing
the doors OF the church he sent one OF the
boys into the tower and soon the danger
signal was pealing over the land.
AS soon as it was heard his supporters
began to rally, coming to the side door of
the church and being admitted within.
On their way to the building they were
welcomed by the enemy with rocks, but
nothing daunteT they arrived eidsa At sne
this would have to be stopped and made
a rush for the door.
Joseph linda, who next to the priest, is
at the head of the congregation which
has possession of the church, was sta
toned on the steps as guard and bravely
he met the onslaught. But the numbers
we're too much for him and he was
downed. His head was battered with the
blows of clubs and rocks and he has a
deep and long cash on his forehead which
was made by a kni e. His defense, how
ever, gave time to the attacked to close
and lock the doors OF the church, and the
enemy was again baked. linda was car
ried to his home. While his injuries are
severe they are not dangerous.
The parties making the attack claim to
have the right on their side. They say
Junge Ambrose decided that the property
belonged to the Roman Catholic Church,
and if so, the title is vested in Bishop
Scannell. If this is the case, then the
Bishop has the power to appoint priest
to carry on the services. They claim that
the present congregation is not Roman
Catholic, and, therefore, has no right to
the property. The other side also claims
right to the property. They admit that
but say that as they paid for it with their
money they ought to have voice in the
decision as to whom the title shold pass.
1t is now decided to Vicar General Choka
and they refuse to transfer the deed to
Bishop Scannell So long as the Bishop
did not have the deed, they claim that he
had refused to appoint priest, and that
therefore they elected the present priest
themselves. Priest Karminski was raised
to the priesthood by Archbishop Vilatte
to carry on the services Of the church &C
cording to the Latin rite, and they claim
that he is as much a Roman Catholic as
Bishop Scannell.
The congregation is about evenly di-
vided, about eighty families being on
each side. The leader of the Scannell
division seems to be Joseph Nowicki.
Priest Karminski and Joseph linda appear
to be at the head OF the other faction.
The priest claims that he has been threat
ened frequently by his enemies. They
desire to kill him, he says, and have held
meetings to lay plans for doing so, but
the Bishop has told them not to do this.
He thinks that the whole trouble was
caused by Nowicki. Priest Karminski
was arrested this afternoon charged with
shooting with intent to kill.
An Unexpected "Water Scene''