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The Cornish Telegraph, Mining, Agricultural, and Commercial Gazette. Tuesday 06 Mar 1877
WEST KIRRIER SESSIONS.
GUILDHALL, HELSTON, SATURDAY, Feb. 24th.
[Before the Rev. F. C. JACKSON (Chairman,) and Messrs. DANIELL and DAVEY.]
AN ASSAULT. - William BUNSTER, a retired quartermaster in the Navy, charges James CONNOR, a coastguardsman, at Porthoustock, St. Keverne, with having assaulted him on the 17th instant. - Mr. Wellington DALE appeared for the complainant. - It appeared that complainant had lately married and defendant did not seem to approve of the match. Ever since he had been continually annoying BUNSTER. On the 17th instant, defendant commenced as usual, and one word fetched another. At last defendant rushed at complainant and would have struck him, if his wife had not come between them. - The Bench fined defendant 2s 6d and costs.
A CHAPEL DISTURBANCE. - John HOCKING, farmer, of Manaccan, charged Sampson HILL, jun., farmer, also of Manaccan, with having assaulted him at the Wesleyan Chapel, Highlanes, on the 21st instant. - Mr. Henry ROGERS appeared for complainant, and Mr. Wellington DALE for defendant. - At the opening of the case Mr. ROGERS said that as it was between respectable men and concerning matters in a Chapel, his client would withdraw the case on defendant making an apology and paying the costs. - Mr. DALE, on behalf of defendant, declined to make an apology or pay costs, as complainant was to blame entirely; but he was quite willing for the complainant to withdraw the case altogether. - Mr. OATTEN, Wesleyan minister, preferred that the case should be fully investigated. - Complainant swore that he was at the Chapel on Wednesday last, and during the singing saw a friend come in. He left his seat and asked the friend to sit down. Going down the Chapel for this purpose, defendant stood in his way and stopped him, pushing him back, and then taking him by the collar and pulled him out of the Chapel. - In support of this he called Mr. KNOWLES, who also swore that defendant pulled complainant out of the Chapel. - Mr. DALE cross-examined the witnesses, and then stated that, for some considerable time past, complainant and others have been in the habit of disturbing the congregation, and, in consequence, the managers? of the Chapel had resolved to put a stop to it. Defendant on the evening in question was standing at the door, and it was his duty to keep order in the Chapel, he being also the Society's Steward. Complainant was making signs to two men who were standing in the stairs, and during the prayers he arose and walked down the Chapel towards the men. Defendant stood at the bottom of the stairs and said complainant should not go up to laugh. Complainant tried to push him on one side two or three times, and then defendant opened the door and requested complainant either to leave the Chapel or go back to his seat. Complainant then left the Chapel, but defendant never put his hands in complainant's collar nor in any way pushed him out of the Chapel. He also contended that if the parties were properly placed, the complainant ought to have been summoned instead of complainant. - In support of this statement two witnesses were called. - Mr. DALE then stated that he had several more witnesses, but he would not unnecessarily occupy the time of the Court. - The BENCH dismissed the case.