The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-27
THIRTY-FIVE POLICE
WERE AT CHURCH
Precautions Taken to Prevent % Out.
break Among Providence P0lauders.
THEIR SERVICES WERE NOT NEEDED
Father Pesa Was Permitted 10 Break
Down the Boards Nailed Across the
Doors aud lie Celebrated Two
Masses..COurt Granted a Pre-.
Iiminarv Injunction Saturday Re.
straining the Barricading.


Williams. Sergeant Robert II. Deter
and all the police on duty Saturday
night. comprising In all thirty five Of
ficers. were OH guard from to > o'clock
yesterday morning to prevent any dis
turbance at St Joseph's Lithuanian
church on North Main avenue.
Notice had been sent to the police
that there was fear OF an outbreak. and
as a precautiUn they were ordered to
report to headquarters after duty in
the morning. They went NJ to Provi-
dence on the first car and took posi-
tions near the church. None Of the
congregation was present ut that hour.
but later the pastor. Rev. Michael Pesa.
made his appearance and with the help
Of another man broke down the boards
that had been nailed across the doors.
Perha ps. about two dozen Of those op-
posed to him came around about $50
but they offered no resistance and
everything went along quietly. Chief
Robling at 9 o'clock ordered all the Of
ficers except IA detail under Lieutenant
Spellman to return 10 headquarters and
80 home.
Since last winter there has been a
good deal of opposition to Father Pesn.
Money is the cause OF all the trouble.
a minority of the congregation wanted
Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara to transfer the
pastor to some other place and appoint
man who would restore harmony.
They charged that Father Pesa was
doing what he pleased with the money
and had no scruples about failing to
settle debts.
DID NOT BELIEVE CHARGES.
a majority of the congregation re-
tanned confidence In the pastor and they
said that these were trumptd up chSIy.
~ and that the real grievance was be-
cause he did not come from the Same
part Of the old country rs those op-
posed to him. and that they wanted
to get priest who did. Last summer
the parish conducted an excursion and
realized three or four hundred dollars.
The pastor took the money.
Along in the winter q warrant was
sworn out charging him with embezzle-
ment, because he. they alleged. refused
10 give an account OF the money. The
grand jury ignored the bill when 1t
came before them. The Instructors
then bolted the church doors and win
dows. Father Pesa swore out war
rant for those who had anything to do
with the act. and that was quashed
before 1t passed beyond the grand jury.
The opposition next sought to become
incorporated under the name st. Jo-
seph's Lithuanian Church." In order to
obtain the property. but the court did
not humor them and that scheme fell
through. Quiet was restored and peace
reigned until two weeks ago. The op-
posing party again took possession Of
the church. boarded up the doors and
refused Ia let the pastor In to say mass.
GUARD ABOUT THE CHURCH.
Day and night last week some Of their
numbers were on guard to stop any
one taking sides with the priest from
coming in and opening UP the church.
This kept UP until Saturday morning.
and then the pastor and his supporters
applied once more to the law for REM
edy.
A bill in equity was filed Saturday
morning praying for an injunction to
restrain Michael Benotas. Jonas SzwO-
Eas. George Smith. Anthony Gowal.
Michael Shemboskey. and Joseph Gud-
iskey from keeping the church barred
The plaintiffs in the case are Joseph
Rusan, Joseph Tomalunas, Charles
Zuski. Stanislaus Listinsk. Joseph
Bilsch. Anthony Zhamuskish. Joseph
Pethricks. and Joseph Rohinitis.
The bill sets forth that the parish was
organized In 1892. and has been gov
crned by the rules. regulations and
laws Of the Roman Catholic church;
that OH July Is, 1894. Biship O'Hara. ap-
pointed Father Pesa pastor; that on
June IL. 1893, the congregation entered
into Il contract with the Electric City
Land Improvement company for the
purchase Of three lots on North Main
avenue for the consideration Of $500.
This amount was paid and on Nov.
70. S94, u contract was entered into for
the erection of a sub.structure or
church basement to be used as q place
Of worship until the congregation should
be able to proceed with the erection uf a
church.
AN INJUNCTION GRANTED.
Judge Gunster granted preliminary
injunction to restrain the opposition
from keeping the priest out of the
church. The matter Will come up for
argument on Wednesday morning at 8
O'Clock Hon. John p. Kelley and NJ. A.
Mckinley are attorneys for the injunc-
tion. The runor that there would be
a clash bot tween both sides when Father
Pesa would try to get In to say mass.
was what brought the police to the
scene. Two masses were read but not
the least violence was reported.