A NOVEL MISDEMEANOUR.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1183, 9 June 1874, Page 4

A NOVEL MISDEMEANOUR.

There is no Act of Parliament forbidding persons without voice, ear, or knowledge of music, for singing, if it pleases them to do so. The consequences are sometimes dreadful, but they are borue with resignation, as it is felt that it would be contrary to the first principles of liberty to interfere with the exercise of the human voice when raised with no evil intention, however, inharmonious may bo its utterance. Iu the United Stales it seems that singing without a decent knowledge of the art is, under certain circumstances, an indictable offence ; and a man named William Liukhaw, has just boon tried before Judge Russcl, at Kobeson Superior Court, North Carolina, on an indictment of misdemeanour. It appears by the evidence that Linkhaw is a member of the Methodist Church, and sings in such a way as "to disturb and worry the nerves of the congregation. At the end of each verso his voice when engaged at singing hymns, is heard after the other singers have ceased. One of the witnesses being requested to describe the defendants tinging, sang a verse of a hymn in the voice and manner of the unfortunate man producing, " profound sensation," and sending a thrill of a disagreeable nature through the bar, the jury, and all who were present in court. It wis, -Mi the other hand, proved that Ljukhaw was a Rtricfc member of the Methodist Church, and in other respects a man of the most exemplary deportment. Nor was it contended by the State upon the evideuco that lie had any intention or purpose to disturb the congregation, but, on the contrary,.it was admitted that ho was conscientiously takiug part in tho re-

ligioua services. There was, however, a verdict of guilty "judgment and appeal by the defendant," and here the matter rests for the present. In the event of the ultimate decision beiag adverse to Linkhaw the serious question retrains, whether, even though forbidden by law to take part in congregational melody, ho will be justified in desisting if his conscience bids him lift his voico in song to the best of his ability.