George Washington statue beheaded

updated 10:29 a.m. ET Nov. 10, 2006

NEW YORK - A George Washington statue at an upper Manhattan cathedral lost its head in apparent act of vandalism, police said Friday.

Sunday visitors to the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine noticed the headless statue, prompting church officials to contact police, Officer Kathleen Price said.

A dollar bill with Washington's image cut out was left atop the neck of the stone statue, which stands near the front of the church, Price said.

The statue is 2- to 3-feet tall. It's part of a church collection of historical figures spanning 20 centuries, said Herb Katz, a cathedral spokesman.

Washington represents the 18th century, a statue of William Shakespeare stands for the 17th century and an Abraham Lincoln figure symbolizes the 19th century.

In December 2001, an electrical fire severely damaged two rare 17th century tapestries at the cathedral, which is the principal church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

The building, a neo-Gothic landmark, is in the Morningside Heights neighborhood on the edge of Harlem, a few blocks from Columbia University. The Encyclopedia of New York City describes it as the nation's largest cathedral. It is big enough to hold two football fields.

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Cops: More arrests loom in Fla. couple’s killing   Killing-spree truck driver awaits execution Lawyer gets 20 years for $400 million swindle Porn mogul’s son held in killing, kidnapping Skyscraper body ID'd as cleaning woman Even in death, no rest for Emmett Till Up to 8 sought in Fla. couple's slaying 2 indicted in case of missing Somalis Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: