A "CHRISTIAN" SENTENCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3679, 30 April 1883, Page 4

A "CHRISTIAN" SENTENCE.

The following additional particulars of the sentence of the defendants in the late blasphemy case arc from the Home News of March Oth :—Tho trial of the three defendants, Foote, Ramsay, and Kemp, the editor, proprietor, and"publisher of a weekly paper entitled the Freethinker, for Avriting and publishing blasphemous libels, whichhas being going on for the last few days, was concluded at the Central Criminal Court on March 5. Mr Justice North, in summing up, defined the legal meaning of blasphemy as being any contumelious reproach or profane s .offing against the Christian religion or the Holy Scriptures, and any act exposing the Holy Scriptures aud the Christian religion to ridicule, contempt, or derision. The jury had nothing to do Avith the question AA-hether the prosecntion had been wisely or uiiAviscly commenced. The jury, after" a brief consultation, and Avithout leaving the box, returned a verdict of guilty against all the defendants. Mr Justice North, "addressing Foote, said :—" Foote, you have been found guilty by the jury of publishing these blasphemous libels. This trial has been to me a very painful one, as I regard it as extremely sad to find a person to Avhom God has given such evident ability and intelligence should have chosen to prostitute his talents to the service of the devil in the Avay it has been done under your auspices. I consider this paper totally different from any of the AVorks you have brought before mc in every Avay AA-hatovcr. The sentence I iioav pass upon you is that you be imprisoned for tAvelve calendar months." Immediately upon the passing of this sentence a scene of the greatest excitement and tumult ensued iv the gallery, which AA-as full of the prisoner's friends. Rising together they burst forth in a storm of hissing, groaning, and derisive cries. Foote brought about a momentary lull, as, looking tOAvards the Bench, he cried, "My lord, I thank you ; it is worthy of your creed," but immediately aftei-Avards the uproar became Avorse than ever, several calling out " Christians, indeed !" and "Judge Jeffries." The judge ordered the gallery to be summarily cleared, Avhich was done after some trouble by the police. Ramsay Avas then sentenced to nine months' and Kemp to three months' imprisonment. Cattel, tlio noAvspapcr agent, avlio had been coiiA-ictcd of soiling the Christmas number of the Freethinker, was then put iv the dock to rcceiA'c Sentence. He avus ordered to enter into his oivn recognisances in £200, and to find one surety in £100, to come up for judgment when called upon.