SACRILEGE AT TASMANIA

Evening Post, Issue 253, 29 November 1865, Page 2

SACRILEGE AT TASMANIA

The Cornwall Chronicle, of Ist November, reports a case of sacrilege which occurred a St. Joseph's Church the previous night, or early that morning. A large iron chest, about two avid a-half feet square, and between four and five hundredweight, was found lying on the path in front of the vestry, and, upwards of twenty yards from the door. It had been blown open with gunpowder, and its contents, consisting of two silver chalices — one with gold cup— two silver solariurns, a silver pix, and other articles used in administering the holy sacrament, were scattered about the path. Copper money to the value of about £l appears to have been the only property taken away by the burglar*, and a quantity of this was found scattered about the paths, as if dropped kfr the burglars when making their escape. On examining the vestry, whish is situated in a retired spot in the rear of the old church, it is evident that the mode of entry was by breaking a pane of glass in a window to the left of the door, and forcing in the iron bar placed there to secure it. The window was then raised, and to effect an entrance* was easy. The outer door must have been forced open from the inside, as there ar& no marks on the outside, and a piece of wood securing the bolt of the lock was forced off eutwards> The large iron chest stood on a stand to the right of the doorway, and it must have been by the united strength of at least four men that it was removed to "where it was found, aa it hat no handles to lift it by, and is very unwieldy. It w»» not dragged or rolled orer

mnd over, but carried bodily from the stand to where it was found. A number of lucifers were found lying abnut the path, showing that many had been ignited before the explosion. The iron chest was one of Milner's, aecuml by a patent Chubb lock. This was shattered to pieces, and the inside iron plate, with the side bars, and the heavy bolt of the lock, was blown in all directions. The bolt Is about seven or eight pounds weight, and it was blown through or over a hedge which skirts the narrow path. It appears that in celebration of the Jubilee, collections of alms have been made at St. Joseph's for the lagt three weeks, and this may have excited the cupidity of the burglars, who may have been tinder the impression that all the money collected was placed in the Iron chest in the restry. If so they were deceived, for the coppers only were left in the vestry. The only articles missing, in addition to the coppers, are a silver pix and a small brown bag used tor carrying the blessed sacrament to the sick. His Worship the Mayor visited the •ceno of the outrage between ten and eleven o'clock yesterday morning ; and the police are doing their utmost to discover the perpetrators, but they have no clue to trace them by, as none of the coppers taken could be Identified even if they were discovered.