PAINFUL SCENE.

Evening Star, Issue 4285, 20 November 1876, Page 4

PAINFUL SCENE.

A pasarol -tfcene tooirplacd in St; Catholic Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the morning of the 9th July, arising out of a fight between a priest afld an alderman. It seems that by a rule of the church the use of fans is prohibited during the service. The ladies belonging to the family of Alderman Reardon refusad to comply with the regulation, and were backed up in their j opposition by the Alderman. The fans in the pew occupied by the Reardons being hard at work on the morning in question, Father Scully, the pastor, approached the pew and ordered the Alderman to leave the church. The Alderman refused to have his devotions thus summarily cut short; upon which Father Scully called upon a policeofficer present to eject him. The officer expressed his readiness to do so, if any of the congregation would assist in the work of ejection. None of the congregation re- | sponding to this appeal, Father Scully, who had gone to the altar, rolled up the sleeves of his cassook, and rushing down the aisle seized hold of the Alderman. A frightful struggle ensued. The Alderman made a desperate resistenco, but was finally knocked down and overpowered with the aid of the police-officer. Several ladies fainted during the fight, and strong remonstrances were addressed to the priest and the policeman for the severe manner in which they belabored the vanquished Alderman. "The end," it is stated, "is probably not yet." The worthy Alderman, who carries on his body many bruises, will, it is expected, take legal proceedings against the assailants.