Disturbing a Public Meeting

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 54, 15 October 1885, Page 3

Disturbing a Public Meeting

At theß.M. Court yesterday, before Ward, Esq., R.M., James Whisker was charged by Peter Thomson, with interfering with the progress of a lecture on Sunday last at the Lyceum. The defendant said that Mr Sandilands would appear for him. Mr Staite appeared for the plaintiff. Defendant raised an objection as to the filling in of the summons as the name of the complainant was not disclosed. Mr E. H. Wright J.P. explained that he had filled it in as the printed matter guided him. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The information was made to read *' disturbing." Mr Staite opened the case, and described the society which had been formed for some time; it had only been disturbed twice, and on both occasions by the defendant ; last Sunday night the lecturess was allowed to conclude when defendant jumped up and began to be very demonstrative ; he was requested to leave the buildingbut would not; seeing that there might have been a disturbance Mr Whisker was persuaded to leave by Mr Rowley ; he would only press for a light penalty. Peter Thomson deposed he was vice-president of the Lyceum, which meets every Sunday at the Foresters' Hall; there was a free lecture last Sunday night by Mrs Moore; was acting as chairman at the meeting ; Whisker wanted to know if the lecture was her own production, and wanted to address the meeting ; witness refused to allow him; be would not sit down, and refused to leave the hall ; kept holloaing; he refused to leave the hall, and defied any one to put him out ; he was Tery violent ; there was every prospect of a row ; the meeting was disturbed; Whisker had disturbed a previous meeting. Cross-examined: The lecture was finished, but the proceedings had not terminated ; the meeting was not advertised ; discussion was not usual, Unless allowed by tke chair ; Wliisket moved that the chairman leave th<chair; the subject was "Gems from the good old book ;" Mrs Moore was quite frightened; a Mr Cornish wanted to ask a question ; did not know his motive; Whisker could uot behave himself like a gentleman ; Mr Cornish was a gentleman ; he made no disturbance; Whisker wanted to move an amendment ; never heard him use bad language nor stamp his feet. 80-examined : Mrs Moore had not left the platform; she answered his first question in a most lady-like manner. John Marshall deposed: He was a member of the Lyceum, and was present at the lecture ; there was a disturbance created at the close by Mr Whisker, who caused a noise ; he was requested to sit down, but refused ; he was very noisy ; as a rule the meetings are orderly and quiet ; he thought there was going to be a row ; Whisker was throwing his arms about and speaking at the top of his voice. Cross - examined : Could not say whether the question was put through the chair. By the Bench: The chairman did not invite persons to ask questions; ■ it was understood that the lecture was the production of Mrs Moore ; Whisker's manner was very excited. Joseph Smith, bricklayer, deposed : He was present at the lecture as a .. member of the Lyceum ; saw a disturbance at the conclusion of the lecture, created by Mr J. Whisker ; f the evidence of this witness was the same as the preceding ones] ; he did not think at first Whisker wanted to be insulting ; if it had not been for the conduct of the chairman there would have been a disturbance. Cross-examined: Did not think Whisker intended the first question to be insulting ; he had a long say before he was quiet. Constable Meehan deposed: He was in the habit of visiting the hall on Sundays; he nevej saw any disturbance. Mr Sandilands asked the Bench to the case, as Mr Whisker behaved himself when the lecture was going on ; if the chairman had allowed the question to be put, there would have been no disturbance. The Bench preferred to hear the whole of the evidence. : J. Whisker deposed he was a farmer in Sandon; was in the Lyceum on r e' Sunday night; there were 34 juvenile h. boys, some men and some women; •was not there long when the arbitrary manner of the chairman seemed as if . it would provoke a row; was excited at the doctrines he heard from the lecturess, and asked if the essay was her own production ; she said that she had been assisted by others ; but it was her own production; the chairman rushed down and put his hands on him ; this was the cause of the disturbance. - .The Bench said this case was an important one. The meeting was noi . fijushecl, and if persons don't like the -" : proceedings they could leave. The posCtkra of the chairman must be upheld, { and Whisker would not submit to the -.'■ ruling of the chair. A heavy penalty ■ - vwas not pressed for, and the justice oi U thecase would be met by a fine of 10* ftndeotfcJ.