The Salvation Army in Wanganui.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 122, 28 April 1885, Page 2

The Salvation Army m Wanganui.

At the WangaHai Police Court, yesterday, June Jarvis, and Annie Talbot were charged with " using behaviour m a public place m view of passers-by,where-by a breach of the peace might have been occasioned, on Saturday night." Mr Hutchison appeared for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Hutchison contended that the bthaviour must hav3 been threatening, abusive, or insulting to come under the section of the Act under which the information was laid. His Worship did not think so. Sergeant Bisset, sworn, stated that he was m the Avenue on Saturday evening about 8 o'clock. His attention was drawn to a large crowd of people who wme going up the Avenue from the bridge. Tho Salvation Army and band were amongst the crowd. There were between 500 and GOO people round about them, the footpaths and street being crowded. He made his way through them to ascertain the cause of the shouting, yelling, and hooting. The noise was hideous. Ho got through the crowd and found at the head of the band two persons dressed m a disguised manner. He saw that they were the cause of the hooting and yelling, and he wont up and took hold of one nearest him and took them out of the procession. fie did not know then whether thuy \vert» inun, women, or boys. Taking them to th« station, he found Mrs Talbot dr*?B8 u d with a smoking cap on her head, trim*

mcd with " War Cry," handkerchief round her ears, spectacles on her nose, and her face daubed with flour. An Auslriuu rug was hung round her shoulders reclining to the ground. Mrs Jarvis wore a large paper hat or cap with red ribbon round on it, shawl round her waste, and a military cloak or er all, U«r face was daubed with ] flour too. Their appearance would tend to create a breach of the peace. By Mr Hutchison — This was likely to create a broach of the peace. There was no breach of peace as far as he saw, but there was a disturbance. The fact of: their being dressed up would occasion a breach of the peace. Two persons who were dressed so ridiculously would occasion a breach of the peace before reaching the barracks they being the chief causes. Had great reason to believe that they would have caused a breach of the peace. There would have been several flights, as somebody would have attacked them, and th.iv their part would have beeu taken by someone else. The crowd and procession were all mixed up together. Constable McLennan corroborated this evidence. Tbe two defendants had joined the Army as thqy went up the ' Avenue, wiien a great disturbance took place. He went to see the cause of it, and he found these women m disguises leading the army. There were 500 or 600 present, and a gr.;at noise was being made. j By Hutchison — Their disguises would occasion a breach of the peace. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Hutchison .contended that there was no breach of the law. He submitted that tho behaviour must be such as would lead to a breach of the peace. They had, as part of the army, done this to attract attention — (His Worship — " A sort of red rag, I suppose") — as m other places, where .they had introduced a representation of His Satanic Majesty. The people who were going tojattack'them were those who should have been :\rrested,not those who made themselves ridiculous by disguises. This was a land of liberty and the feelings of the people must be. restrained. He would call the antsJane Jarvis, who seemed a cheery Bort of a lady, and was laughing all the time, sworn, said — She was a member of the army. At their upon air meetings on Saturday nights there was always a crowd of peoplfl round, and when •' brothers and sisters" got up to testify, they made a noise. When the Army went back they did not follow past the fountain, and the object they had m view m disguising themselves was to get the crowd into the Barracks. His Worship — Yo» were the recruiting party?— Yes. You admit being arrayed m this man ncr ? — Yes. By Mr Jair.es— There was not more than the usual uoise as far as she could see. She could not see any one, as she did not hold up her head, being ashamed of herself. The other defendant, A. Talbot, said she was with her friend on Saturday, but they did not intend to create a breach of the peace. This witness gave a short sermon suitable to the occasion, and showing that their intentiont were of the best, especially towards " poor wanderers," " sinners," and " drunkards," who they desired to get into the barracks to show them the " error of their ways." • " Captain " Wright said he was captain of the " Army," and was with the procession on Saturday night. The women were m front. There was not an unusual crowd. The women took no part m the disturbance. The object was to bring m the wanderers. He knew there was something going to take place, but he did not know what it was. They told hun they were going to do something to attract the crowd. He said " God bless you, go on." It was done from pure love to tho drunkards and others who did not come to the Army. Their attendances had been falling off, and something had to be done. He knew they belonged to the Army as soon as he saw them, and thought they would have had a large crowd at the Barracks had they been left alone. His Worship said he had ejrep'^sympathy with army, believing that «a6y did good, but a Magistrate's first duty was to prevent breaches of the peace. He considered this a breach of the peace, but as the defendants had no intention of breaking the law, he would only fine them 5s each. — Herald.