FRACAS IN A CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1414, 23 November 1886, Page 2

FRACAS IN A CHURCH.

The Rev. James Mackie, minister of the Groavenor Square Church, Oxford-street, Manchester, was arrested under a warrant on September 23, and was subsequently brought before the stipendiary magistrate on the charge of having made a serious attack npon Mr James Carswell, one of the elders cf the church, in the vestry of the building luring Sunday afternoon. On Snnday morning the Rev 'Mr Mackie got possession of the box containing the offertory, and in the vestry, after se vice, a scene took place between the pastor and the officers of the church. Mr Carswell, who is the treasurer, attempted to secure uosst salon of the money, at the time asking the Rev Mr Mackie what he had to do with it To this the rev gentleman replied that he had all to do with it, and farther Intimated that if Mr Carswell did not leave the room he would

“ do ” for him, threatening also that If he went to church in the afternoon and created a disturbance be would have to be carried out Mr Carswell, believing ha had a right to the custody of the money as the treasurer of the church, nevertheless attended at the afternoon service, and proceeding to the vestry, again attempted tu obtain possession of the boxes containing the offettory. Thereupon Mr Mackie drew a butcher’s steel from under bis coat, made a spring at Mr Carswell, and, as is alleged by the prosecution, attempted to stab him with it. The two elders present immediately seized the minister, and knocking his arm aside, diverted the blow, the result being that only the point of the weapon caught Mr Carswell’s left temple—this, however, inflicting a somewhat nasty wonnd. In the souffle ths cteel was wrested from the hands of the rev gentleman, and the handle snapped off in the conflict. Op M on ’*y wound had considerably healed, and there is no danger of ee'ions consequences following. The magistrate, after bear* ing a number of wltaesessj adjoarnsd (bf me.