BURNING OF ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY.

West Coast Times, Issue 101, 13 January 1866, Page 3

BURNING OF ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY.

111 1 ■ (From iho Van.i Courier Junuttry)

La.<t Saturday afternoon, a man, who gave his name ns Edward M'Ennroo, surrontlorod him-sclf to the custody* of Mr Sub-inspector Bre'nnan, at the police qunrtois, stilting that ho was guilty of having wilfully set firo to St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. It will be in tile recollection of 'our readers thnt nt the time of the destruction of St. Mary's, a supposition existed amongst some of tho clergy that tho conflagration was the act of an incendiary, and the inquest which, followed thu rlisnstel* was carefully watched over by ono or two of tho' number. Tho jury brought in a verdict that the ftre had been accidentally caused by somo of the incense bearers having" thrown the charcoal on the floor behind the altar," mid they believed that some of the embers had ignited inflammable matterbcneutli the boards. M'Encroo states that he is related to the venerable archdeacon, and also to Mr M'Encroe, of the linn of Berlin and M'Encroe, of Georgc-stree't South, that he arrived in t'.ie colony from Ireland a year or lsiore ago, that ho applied to both of tliost) gentlemen for employment, an:l Ilia* they had refused to exercise their interest on his behalf. He appears to have gone lo Bruidwood, where he became an inmate of the hospital, but previously, iv order lo rovenge himnelf of the supposed injuries inflicted by his relatives |>y their neglect, he attempted to set fire to St. Patrick's Church in Sydney. Disappointed in accomplishing that design, lie afterwards proem ed n bottle of kerosene oil and a box of matches, and with these attended the evening service at the Cathedral of St. Many on the occasion, of the festival of S H. Peter and l'aul. Whilst the congregation were quitting tho edifice, according to his confession, he .smeared tho kerosene oil on the floor near the altar and ignited it just as tho last persons were leaving 1 the church. Mr Brennan took M'Kncroe to the lockup, where Dr Blake Attended and received his voluntary statement in the presence of Constable' Whealy. Ho will bo brought before the court this morning. It is stated that M'Encroe exhibits no symptoms of insanity, that ho is v married man, having a wife and two. children in Ireland, and there is reason to believe that'hcleft his country for some misconduct which induced his relatives and his clergy in the colony to give him no countenance. Previous to giving himself up to Mr Brennan, lie was at Mr 11. O'Brien'f, Douro, where ho entered into conversation with - a person there, inquiring of him tbo particular offences that tho law punished with death. On being told that arson was 01 c of these offences, he made special inquiries, and appeared satisfied that it wrs one punishable with hanging.