The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-30
OFFICERS AT THE ALTAR
Hrushka Says Mass Guarded
By Copstables and
Policemen.

! Father Hrushka said mass for the first
time in the Greek Catholic Church yester-
day since his arrest for cigar making. 1t
will be remembered thai last Sunday
Hrushka had a mortgage which he held
on the church property foreclosed, and
thus prevented the parishioners from using
the church to hold their regular Sunday
services. The church remained closed all
last week. and on Saturday Hrushka's
lawyers told him he could say mass in
the church on Sunday if he wished. Ae-
cordingly. Hrushka left his house at an
early hour and made his way to the
church. He arrived there at eight
o'clock. Under Sheriff Joseph Locke
was sexton and altar boy. He rang the
bell and lighted the candles on the altar.
Then Constable Mitchell opened the door
for Hrushka and invited him in. Father
Ardan and the parishioners, who had also
arrived. crowded around the door, and as
Mitchell opened it they made a rush to
get in One fell pushed by Hrushka, n
would have gotten into the church but
for Constable Mitchelps quick action. He
caught hold of the fellow by the Shout
ders and threw him down the church
steps. n Sheriff Locke showed the
crowd a billy. and told them to stand
back, which they did. Then Hrushka en-
tered the church. He proceeded to the
altar and donned his priestly robes. Then
when all was ready Constable Mitchell
invited the people standing outside to
enter the church. About fifteen people
$1,000 Inere We're nine men. Two
women ana four boys.
during the mass Father Ardan and the
parlSnionerS stood on a corner opposite
me church and listened to the counsel of
luGlI IL Wh0 IuYaO -
any disturbance. They then contented
themselves with stopping the parishioners
that Hrushka was saying mass, and for
them to remain outside with Father Ar
dan; They succeeded in getting all the
of the mass there were fully 200 people
standing on the corner opposite the
AT about 11:30 O'Clock Father Hrushka
started to come out of the church.. I'm
der Sheriff Joseph Locke agreed to act
as a body guard and started to see
Hrushka home. As the old priest left
the front gate the parishioners crowded
around him. and but for the appearance
on the scene of the six policemen, who
We're at the church to preserve order. it
IS pelieved that there would have been
trouble. The policemen scattered the
crowd from around Hrushka in short or.
der, and they stood off at a respectable
distance and hooted at him and called
nm vie names. They followed ii to
his nome, at No. 48 William street, and
then when he was out of their sight
rhey took the advice of Under Sheriff
Locke n went home.
Before going home, however, three of
the parishioners gave their names to Pa
trolman Perry. They said they were
willing to swear that Hrushka sold them
cigars, received the money for them, and
gave chem receipted bills for the same.
Ihey promised to appear against Hrush-
ka at the trial. Vespers is generally
neld IN the afternoon in this church, but
Frushka failed to appear, and the con-
stables who We're present would not al.
low anyone to enter except Hrushka.
The parishioners were on hand, but there
lawyers We're on hand, and so was fhe
parisl1ioners' lawyer. The parishioners
claim chat they are simply resting on
their oars n say they will triumph in
the end.