“AMOK IN CHURCH.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 1 September 1925, Page 9

“AMOK IN CHURCH.”

SMASHING A STATUE. LONDON, Aug. 10. That he had ,run amok in St. Francis’ R.C. Church, Paddington, at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, smashing a statue arid twisting a brass crucifix, was the allegation made at the Paddington Court to-day against John Marshall, aged 46, a labourer. After evidene'e had. been taken, on the charge of malicious damage, the Magistrate (Air. AlcMahon) remanded the man for medical observation.

Evidence was given that Marshall went into trie church, and when Charles Farrugia, the sacristan, tried to stop him from going to the altar the defendant used had language and struck Farrugia. While Farrugia hurried away to call the police, Marshall ascended the altar steps. Ho dashed to the' ground a statue worth £25, arid also scattered the altar candles.

He then started to pull the seats about, riiearivvhiie using bad language. It was stated that Marshall had been previously charged with having maliciously damaged property in a Newcastle church, .and, again, at St. Marv’s. Cathedral. Rev. Thomas MeVittie, Presbyterian minister at Paddington, said that Marshall had .told him of the peculiar kink lie had for smashing church altars. Alarsh,all was not. criminally inclined. He was a great scholar and had studied church history deeply. On some matters he was not quite right in his head.