POLICE COURT.—This Day.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4796, 23 May 1884, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before H. Kenrick* Esq., R.M.) '■■' . , •;. ' ':. ASSAULT. .••'.

James Kelly and Thomas Johnston were charged with assaulting F. Le Manqaais. Mr Miller appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Lush for the defence. Mr Miller said the plaintiff was a sergeant of the Salvation Army, and the d^ fendants had been refused adnr'ssion to^ei hall used by the Army owing to previous misbehaviour on their part, and in consequence they assaulted the complainant. Johnston had been previously refused admission on account of his disorderliness. and on promising to behave better ho had been admitted. Subsequently orders were given to refuse admittance to Johnston and Kelly. The defendant's got into the hall on Sunday afternoon, and behaved themselves in a disorderly manner, talking loudly and throwing their legs over the seats in front of them. On. Sunday evening they went to the door, and upon.being refused admission, the? tried to- force their way into tbe hall, pushing the plaintiff outside when the latter attempted to keep the defendants out of the place. Alfred John Francis deposed he was Captain of the Thamc3 Corps of^ tbe Salvation Army. The defendants^ frequently attended Salvation meetings. Their conduct h-.d b^3n such that witness had frequently t? censure them. Had to give orders to keep Johnston from their meetings. Could say nothing "about Kelly who he only knew by appearance. Cro"s-examin. d by Mr Lush —Did not ask Johnston to re attend the meetings. Told-him the ny jlings were publip:ahd he was welcome if he behavol himself. Af'er Johnston hrd apo^o^ised to witness for using .blasphemous language, witness gave instructions to his officers to admit him 'o their mi 3lings. John ISTodder, sworn, stit.il that the defendants were at the meeting of the Army held on Crnday aiiernoon'.and behaved in a very disorderly manner, talking and preventing witness and from praying and hearing what Vas being spid, ai>d putting their legs on the form. la cro'sexamination, witness admitt. d lint fUhoujh the conduct of defendants wrs di orderly, no officer had check-1! them at the meeting. .Albert Hpdson deposed—He was Lieutec ant in. the Army, and saw the defen* danfs at their mating on Sa'urday nights .last,- and when tho*e present at the n? sting had finisbe ! the 87th hymn, the de> fendants sfartod singing again, and on Johnston being <old to go out, he refusrd to do so. The presiding officer hsd arid to them, "Go on," with tbe intantion of finding out who was disturbing, gave instructions to the sergeants uot to let the defendants in, but they got in on Sunday afternoon, r d misbehaved themselves. Tben told them they were notto be allowed in arra:n, acd they said, "Albert, we had you this time." Told Le Man.quais they should vot be allowed in on Sunday night. Johnston was on the "defaulters' list" for being disorderly. F. Le Manquais said that in consequence of instructions received*- from his officer he refused to admit defendcuts to the Salvation meetings. On Sunday afternoon they got in before being noticed, and had instructions to keep them out on Sunday evening, On that evening he was stationed at the door, aid Kelly went there and said he would strike the first man attempting to put himlout 5 he went away and returned, and in opposition to witness Vise 1 his way intj the ball. Witness askrd him lo go out; be replied by asking if witness could put

' him out. /Kelly put witness out instead, and m doing so, caught him by the coat • collar and. said, •' If you were not an old i man I would sma^h you." Johnston then , went up and asked liim for a match I end tobacco, he had a pipe in his , band, He then ask::! him if "tboy > saved souls there." Asked Johnston to !• go out, but he would not move; attempt d ' to push him out, .but defendant.caught him, drag cd- him inside, and assumed a fighting attitude. Eelly tore the roat of witness' while he was trying to put him out, E.. Tremb..th wa? door-keeping at the Salvatioi Army meeting on Sunday night last. Was instructed to keep out Johns'ton and Kelly. When* Kelly-went there told him so, and he ißsislr"dwm going in. He we.it away and returned vrith Johnston. 13 Manquais refused them admission, and went lo'j»ut Kelly out, when (he "aiter pulled him out, and Johnston subsequently pulled him in. Le Manquais' coat was torn in the ccuffle. No blows' were struck. . . ' Mr Lush s- id the defendants hfid no intention of disturbing^: th" meeting; they had simply chaffed 'the doorkeeper, Ihe Salvation Army bad said and done things which had arisen feelings of indignation on tho part of many^people. He did not propose lo open this question, as it would be very unpleasant to rake many such things up. The defendants went in the afternoon to the hell,'and wore told bV< (he sergeant to " go on " singing, and, E qir doing so, were ted to go out. . The police? were sent for, and on arriving refused to* arrest them, as they were quite orderly. - Thomas Jo,hns on, one of the defendants, -deposed that on Sunday night on read Ing Mulligan's corier met Kelly, who asked him to go to tLj Salvation Hall, < Heard some noise of youngatera " hurrahing," and went there;'saw a number of young people " larking." Asked Le Mfijiqyais for a match, just for fun. Someone - shored himfrom behind, and. lie got into the hull, (here was no objection made to his being there. Kelly came in; avid not until then Le Manquais told him to go out, he replied he wm Order!/ tod would cot,

LeManquais then placed his band on him . and he resisted. Albert then came down stairs, ordered them out, und they went. Oo Saturday night they were singing a - chorus with the Army, aod when it was dove the presidingofficer told ihem to " go on," and then went down and told them to go out, witness replied, "I am noV disorderly, if I am, you can send for a policeman and ftivo me in charge." They sent for a polii Jinan, but he would not lake witnrss in ohrrge. The rc.ison he had been expel!: d from the meetings before was Tor refusing to Stand while a hymn wa9 being suug. James Kelly ciroborated the evidence of the provious, witness. The re-sou ho caught hold of Le Mnnquais was to prevent himself from falling, when being pushed. Hud no intention of goiiig into the meeting en Sunday night. Simply chaffed the doorkeeper?. Walter Wilkes was standing on the sljircase of the Saivr tioh Hall on Sunday night, and saw a.lot of little boys at the door, after.a time Johns'.onaud Kelly came up, md Johnsion was pushed in through the doorway, afterwards- Le Marquais put his hands on Kelly's shoulder and pushed him out backwards. Did not sre Johnston do anything af, all, he app^areS to be pushed into'the doorway by some : one outside.

James Culpitt'gavo similar evidence and s .id that Le Manquais- pat - his bands on Kelly's shoulder*," ,aud tried to push him out, when Keliy\ the former by the coat in ordej tq^'ave himself from falling. Saw no'^ struggle. Johnston simply resisted passively. - .Richard Prcce corroborated Johnston's evidence, adding that Le Manquais was throwing the hojs. —who were trying to get in—out on the foitp^th, aud if my of tbe boys had been his, he would " have had him up for it." The Bench said the two defendants•weut to the haU with a knowledge that they were not to be allowed in, and on being told they could not go in, they mii sistcd en doing so; and the door-keeper attempted to put them out. An assault had been committed. If they did not go there to create a disturbs c, they went to cast ridicule on the Army.' .They may have considered the form of worship ridiculous, but if people holding similar viewsregarding other religions misbehaved themselves the? wonld be punished.-The defendants' would be fined 23i each, and costs £3 14?, and io enter into their own' rceo^msaui j to kjep the pc xc ; this was as far as the plat jof worship used by the, ' Army, they had a right of protectionwithin tfceir own.;building. -*" WANDttftIKG- -ANIMALI. . Alex. Hanlw, Kobe: fc Smith, John Cook, and Jarnea Paterson, were fim I ls^, I cuch for alfowiDg their horses to wander.