AN EXTRAORDINARY DECISION.

Evening Star, Issue 4296, 2 December 1876, Page 4

AN EXTRAORDINARY DECISION.

A somewhat unusual case came before some of the Sydney Magistrates at the Central Police Court lately. Some time ago a public-house was built very near St. ilohn’s Church at the Glebe, and the usual Application made for a license. The clergyman and his churchwardens busied themtclves in opposition to the granting of the license, and successfully. But by a senes of dodges, very ingenious, but just as disingenuous, the would-be publican obtained his license, and opened the house as “ St. John’s Tavern,” the name being meant as a joke at the expense of the clergyman. 'I lie next thing was a long letter to the ‘ Herald’ by tjhe clergyman, giving a detailed narrative of the manner in which the license had been obtained, and making the case the basis of an appeal for a reform of the licensing law. Whereupon the tavernkeeper challenged him in the stre. t, and addressed him in these polite terms : “ Who are you to interfere with me ? I will wring your nose. D n you, who are you V 1 will wring your nose if you give me half a chance. You go sponging in your church, .and want to prevent me from getting an honest living ; you drink your grog at home, and want to prevent poor men from getting theirs.” The clergyman, intimidated, heat a‘ retreat more hasty than dignified, and afterwards summoned Boniface for using insulting words, whereby a “ breach ” might have been occasioned. But the magistrate?, by a majority, dismissed the information, and the issue is that the publican is at liberty to d n the clergyman, and threaten to wring his nose, whenever he meets him. The Press condemn the magistrates’ decision in strong terms.