Vandals Behead George Washington Statue

NEW YORK (Nov. 10) - Vandals beheaded a statue of George Washington at one of the world's largest cathedrals and left a dollar bill on what was left of the neck, police said Friday.

The damage was discovered Sunday at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, near Columbia University, Officer Kathleen Price said.

The statue, near the front of the church, is part of a church collection of historical figures spanning 20 centuries. A statue of William Shakespeare represents 17th century, Washington the 18th century, and Abraham Lincoln the 19th century.

Police were still investigating the damage Friday morning and had not made any arrests.
The building, a neo-Gothic landmark big enough to hold two football fields, serves as the principal church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Construction on St. John the Divine began in 1892, but it is still only three-fifths complete.

11/10/06 10:04 EST

LinkHere