SACRILEGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 130, 29 November 1909, Page 7

SACRILEGE.

ROBBERY FROM A CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. [BT TELKGEAFH — PBK33 A'OSOCIATIOH.I CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A most unpleasant occurrence was discovered when the Roman Catholic Cathedral was opened yesterday morning. On the walls of the building are hung a number of small wooden boxes, receptacles for voluntary contributions for pious or charitable purposes. Seven of these boxes had been taken from their supports, £pr£ed open, and the f contents abstracted. The boxes had evidently been prised open with a chisel or some such instrument, and after the money had been taken were thrown on the floor, where they were lying when the theft was discovered. It is impossible to state what sum was secured by the thieves, but the estimate places it ft not more than five or six pounds. The theft was committed some time between Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The main door of the cathed-ral-was locLecl, but a door leading from the vestry was open. The intruders confined their attentions to the boxes, without attempting anything on the sffe which contained the altar plate. It is said some suspicious-looking characters had been seen about the building on Saturday evening, but, of course, it is impossible to connect them positively with the crime. The occurrence has created great indignation among the cathedral congregation.