The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1910-05-07
HOUSE AND CHURCH
WERE BOTH BURNED
In Mississippi City by Fire
Which Was of Incendiary
Origin-Alleged Enemies
of Priest Applied Torch
Investigation to be Made.

The destruction by fire on, Saturday
night of both the Catholic church and
residence of the priest, at Mississippi
City, by ineendiarism, is deeply de-
plored and reflects upon the community
where the deed was perpetrated. There
are several versions of the affair. The
following is from Mondays Biloxi Daily
Herald:
There is no doubt that the fire which
destroyed the Church of st. James, the
Catholic Church at Mississippi City and
the house adjoining, which was owned
by Father Chenel and occupied by 0.
NJ. Pryor and family, was of lncendiary
origin. Neither is there any doubt but
what an investigation will be made by
some one, if by no one else than by the
insurance companies, TO find out who
was the fire bug. The loss on both the
dwelling and the church was complete,
and on both there was insurance.
At about eight o'clock OF Saturday
night there was noticed a bright glow in
the sky towards Mississippi City, and a
little after it was learned by telephone
that the Catholic Church and dwelling
house next door were in flames. The
house was set on fire, and the church
caught from the house. Both were near
the center of the town and some little
i IA
The house was owned by Rev. Father
Chenel, Catholic priest now living at
Laurel, Miss, and formerly in charge OF
the church at Mississippi City. The
house was occupied by O. NJ. Pryor and
family. Mr.. Pryor is travelling man
and formerly lived in Biloxi and pre-
yious to living there was a resident OF
Pensacola, Florida.
1t is evident that the parties who set
fire to the house had nothing against
Mr.. Prior and his family, but that they
were determined to burn down the
house and, in order that the family OF
Mr.. Pryor might not be injured, warned
him to move out. Several Zaeks age
Mr.. Pryor received an anonymous letter
stating that it was not desired to iniure
him or his family, but that he had bet
ter move out of the house in which he
was living, as no one should live IN thai
| house. Since that time two attempts
have been made to set the barn in che
rear of the place on fire, but in each in
stance the fire was discovered in time
and extinguished.
A number of parties at Mississippi
| CITY have held a grudge for some time
against Father Chenel, and it was un-
doubtedly one of these parties who Sc
the house on fire. The trouble is O.
rather long standing and originated
when Father Chenel was in charge o.
the church in Mississippi City. In fac t
the trouble finally reached a point VIII ere
a suit was filed in circuit court by Faith e.
| Chenel against J. b. Suyer, OF Hands.
boro, for S25, 900 for alleged SANDER.
seems that while Father Chenel was the
pastor at Mississippi City he purchases
the piece of property next door to The
! church, and it was decided to him. The
accusation was made by various peopll
that Father Chenel had not acted alto
gether in good faith, and that it was in
timated that he had misappropriated il
this way money intended for churci
purposes, and also that he had gOttel
the property cheaper than he 9th erwis
would, because il was understood that
was being bought for church purp osa
1t was the continuance of these accY:
tions which Father Chenel finally fsa
to be of slanderous character a<too
which he based his suit for defafnd 0
of character. /0atio
The trouble in the church VT
time taken before the Bishop f. q; on
and was decided, say those III Natche
to know, adversely to FAY = positio
Some three or four week/ e. Chene
cation of priests came. ago 4 dele
orleans, and another e. from Ne
held at Mississippi Gu hureh ,r;al W;
compromise was A.. At this tri;
upon b. Father Cha6v,sed and agree
donate strip of 2 ae,. lie agreed
off the property in/ round utty feet vic
with the unders1 question to the churc
end the matter |ana5ag that this wou.
r
that the suit and ii Was also suppose
drawn and or slander would be witt
ended. H2,e waole trouble would