THE SALVATION ARMY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4960, 2 December 1884, Page 2

THE SALVATION ARMY.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—l read with horror your report of the behaviour of the Salvation Army oa Suaday last outside the Hospital. I enclose an interesting piece of intelligence culled from a Home paper :—" On Tuesday, at the Tunbridge Police Court, where amongst other magistrates Baron Bramwell was on the bench, the chairman, addressing the police, said they had receired a letter from two people living near where the Salvation Army held their meetings complaining of the nuisance they were* put to. As they had complained to the police without any redress, they applied to the bench for assistance. Sergeant Wag* home said that the Salvation Army came from Tunbridge Wells and paraded the streets of Southborough, which caused a mob to assemble. They had tried to stop it. Superintendent -Barnes said that if the Army stopped at Turnbridge Wellg Southborough would be quite satisfied. The chairman : It appears we are power* less to do anything. Baron BramweU: Oh, no; if they area nuisance they are liable to be indicted. If anyone causes a number of ill-mannered or ill-behaved people to assemble and make such a noise, they are liable, without saying a word for or against the Army. He must say that people had no right to make a nuisance, even if it was through the Salvation Armj. If it was anything like a nuisance the originators could be indicted; besides which, if it was as bad as the people said, he bad no doubt that an action for damages would lie. He was not at all certain that they could not be summoned for creating a public nuisance. Superintendent Barnes : Bjit I could not sammon them for mak* ing a disturbance in tha street if they weio sober. Baron BramweU: Ah, there I beg to differ with you oh that point of law. If a man makes such a disturbance as to be a nuisance he can be indicted, You should [ summon them here and have them bound over the same as anyone else who permits a public nuisance. The chairman to the superintendent: You had better take his lordship's advice and summon some of them. Baron Bramwell: If the disturb-* ance is such that reasonable people ar© substantialy annoyed, and disturbed by it."-I am, &c, Peace.