The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-07
MAYOR WILL push
FIGHT TO A FINISH
Will Continue Opposition to
Erection Of Buildings iii Old
St. Johns.
QUESTION OF COAL BIN
Junior Warden Of Church De-
xclares Mayor Is Mistaken, but
i Executive Insists.
QUESTION OF COAL BIN

.
Mayor Mccarthy has not BY any
means given up the fight in opposition
to the erection OF additional buildings
In st. Johns churchyard. When seen
yesterday, he seemed somewhat sur
prised at the criticism he has received
from the people Of the church. de-
clarlng TINT he has repeatedly assured
them that he would do all In his power
to assist the congregation to build
elsewhere. and to induce the city gov
ton to that effect in return for the
old st. Johns property. He said:
~ do not think the congrcgn-
ton OF st. Johns have amy right,
inter their agreement with the city,
to disturb tlle property. Even II
the City Attorney should conclude
that they have s%Iegnl right, l am
certainly going 10 oppose he
further DISSERTATION Of grnycs in
st. Johns buryinR-gronnd."
Owing to City Attorney Pollnrd's re-
cent sickness, the Mayor has not as
yet had an opportunity Of consulting
him in regard to the matter. Mean
while Captain Mccarthy is stadying
up former ordinances and records
bearing on the subject. The congres
cation Of ST. ohn's have served sort
Of ultimatum to the effect that they
expect to begin the work shortly on a
new chapel and Sunday.school room,
which will be named in memory OF
Rev. Alexander Whitaker. the first
rector OF Hcnrico Parish, which wac
established four years after the land
ing at Jamestown.
Mayor 1listnken, lie Says.
A petition OF the congregation to
erect a reredos or choir at the south
end of the church, thus completing the
cross shape of the building. was grant
ed by the city authorities In 1904, with
the understanding that no graves were
to be desecrated.
This annex was erected on brick pill
lars. several feet apart, with woods
lattice between. up to the main floor,
the ground sioping away on that side
toward Grace Street. The pillars on
which this structure rests were 80
placed as not to interfere with any
graves. A half-dozen or more Of the
big fiat grave-stones were inciosed
under the new annex but the inscrfp.
tons might be read by STOPPING close
to the lattice work and decipherine
the worn letters on the fiat stones
Mayor Mccarthy stated !. yesterday
that to his positive knowledge this
cellar or open space underline choir
OF the church had been used for a
coal bin, anthracite coal having been
dumptd all over the ground inside the
lattice work, and the coal nearly OBJ
scuring the totnbstones In several in.
stances. The Mayor said that he had
seen these desecrated graves with his
own eyes with fuel nearly covering
them, and that the sight had made d
most unpleasant impression upon hin,
as to the congregations desire to re-
spect sthe sacred ashes about theft
place OF worship.
The Mayor said that the erection OF
the proposed new Sunday school build
ing may or may not require the ex-
huming OF some of those buried in st
Johns. The question was cne OF fact
rather than one of law. and therefore
Suitable one for the executive end
| OF the city government to take cogni-
zance OF.
Mr.. Frank J. craIgle. ST.. Junior
warden Of st. Johns Church. when
asked last night about the charge that
the space under the choir, was used
as a coal bin. said that the Mayor
was mistaken. Mr.. Craigie declared
| that brick bin had been built under
| the east side OF the annex for coal
but that tlis graves which were mark
| ed were all on the west side. Mr..
Craige said that If coal had been
dumped over the grave stones or stored
| there 1t was without his knowledge.
Founder Of University There.
| An interesting! fact I'M connection
with this matter is that one OF. the
graves under the annex. marked by a