The Salvation Army.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 14, 12 July 1887, Page 3

The Salvation Army.

DISTURBING THE MEETINGS—TWO COURT CASES. Al the R.M. Court on Saturday (before Mr Booth), two.young men were charged with having disturbed the Salvation meeting on Sunday last. The first MM was that of E. Petersen. Mr Turton acted as connsei for the prosecution, the accused being undefended. Mr Turton did not wish to press for a heavy penalty. “ Captain ’ Holdaway remembered the Evening ih question,, when servi-e wgj being conducted in an ordkrly manner- He saw Petersen there, ud had reason td eotnplain of his cofaduct—he saw him laughing While tat service Mf golfij on, and noticed that those round atiodt P'tersen were disturbed, and witness also was interrupted. He , requested them to keep order, and said he had before spoken about the unseenly cond'-ct. The laughing continued, and while another member of the Army was speaking, accused got up and went to the door, which was in charge of William Hay. Witness afterwards Slw the accused pushing and pulling the oor-keeper. Directly the singing commenced the door was tnrown open. It was a rule in the Army that persons should not go in or out except during the singing. By accused ; Did I push the door-keeper away ?—You tried to do so. Did I push him away with my shoulder ?— 1 skw you endeavoring to do so. I did not let you out when reques’Bd to de so because Of tie rules of the Army. William Hay had been acting as doorkeeper on the evening in question. Had seen two men who appeared to be talking or laughing—could see they were disturbing those around. The “ Captain ” got up and asked them if they would kindly keep quiet—the " Captain ’’ said he had done so previously When Petersen came to the door witness was standing behind him. He said to witness “ You are a b—- lot of liars." He said he wanted to go out, but witness told him he could noi do so until the singing commenced. Accused was passing remarks about the • soldiers " on the platform, and after standing for some time be said he would have io get out. He then tried to get out by f orde When he saw he could not get out he s tood until the singing commenced. The man had been in before. It was usual to keep the door closed except during singing, or in case Of its being wet outside, when persons were Sometimes quietly admitted. Accused had gone in voluntarily.

Mr Turton said he had two witnesses under gubpesna, but would not call them except defendant wished to ask any questions. In reply to the accused, Mr Hearn said be had seen the two young men laughing but had not seen anyone else, nor had he heard defendant using obscene language was at to great a distance to hear any thing said. Had seen him catching hold of Mr Hay and scufl fag.

bn being asked if he had any statement to make the accused said: Well, it was a lady got up and said, " Jesus Christ, come

His Worship: That is enough ; we don’t want that. (Suppressed laughter.) I must beg people who come hear to listen, and not try to make fun of anything that takes place in a room set apart for public worship. We may not all have the same ideas in these matters, but that is no reason why we should hot have respect for the feeling of others. ITo the accused:] You are accused of making a disturbance, and it does not matter what it was that caused you to do so. You have been charged with creating an offence b/ laughing, and then instead of waiting for a few moments tried to get out by force, and also used the obscene expressions. Accused: I did not go in to make a disturbance. I was made to laugh and getting ashamed of mvself. went towards the door to get out. I asked the doorkeeper in kind words to let me out, but he refused to do so. I told him I would make a disturbance that if he did not let me out it would cause me to laugh more than I bad done. If he had done so there would have been no disturbance.

His Worship : One thing, you must remember, you were not obliged to go in. If there was something likely to cause you to laugh there were other places to go to. You went in of your own free will, and going to a place of public worship you ought to have maintained yourself sufficiently to behave in an orderly manner. Accused : Any gentleman sitting in the same position as I was in could not help it. U you had been there yourself, your worship, you would have done the same. (More suppressed laughter.) Sergeant Bullen said he had often been spoken to about the behaviour of those who annoyed the Army, but the strength at h.s disposal would not admit of his sending up a special constable. Consequently he had told “ Captain ” Holdaway that if he would help himself further assistance would be given him—that Holdaway could not have been all this time in Gisborne without being able to point out some of those who were guilty of misconduct. There was no doubt an example should be made—it was not the first nor the Second time this sort of thing had occurred. Some of these men were worse than badly behaved children.

His Worship (to accused): A young man Ot your age ought to have more consideration and more common-sense than to go to a place of that kind for the purpose of being amused— l cannot take it that you went seriously. If you did go not with the Intention of getting some good for yourself, you acted very foolishly, and you must understand that your condu ot, besides being disgraceful, is contrary to law, which provides a penalty of five pounds. You would not think of going into a church and behaving in this way. Ignorance of the law is no plea—you knew your behaviour was improper, and a young mu like you could hardly behave in that way and not be ashamed of himself now. This being the first case of the kind I will not inflict a heavy penalty. In any place of ordinary entertainment you would feel bound to behave yourself, and that feeling should be (till more marked in a place like this. You were not obliged to go, and if anything occurred to amuse you, you should have restrained yourself ud left at the proper time. Fined 20s ud (the witnesses notjaakfag for expenses) 9s costs. Mr Turton said that under the circumstances he would forego his fee, but this must not be taken as a precedent. Accused : I will serve it out. I am not in work, ud do not know where to get the money. His Worship : Does this mean that you are trying to brazen it out ’ I don’t want to make it hard on you, but if you are trying to brazen it out I cannot help you. What time do you wut ? - - Accused said he could not pay the money, ud on being offered a month, or in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, accused said, “ I will take the 48 hours.”

His Worship expressed regret that this bad not been a lesson to Petersen, and as he seemed determined, and the first sentence would mean being let out before Sunday, the term would be three days. Edward Manning was then charged with a similar offence. He pleaded guilty to laughing, but not to disturbing the meeting. Mr Turton said it was Muning who had been previously warned ud it was hie taugh’ig which was really the cause of Petersen going to the door. Accused: I was not the only one that laughed. His Worship : That is no excuse for you. Accused : There was something to laugh at. If you had been there yourself

His Worship : Poesiblv there was, but if you were there before ana had been warned, there is no excuse for your going again and laughing. The accused said he was only a stranger in the place ; there were others laughing besides him, and he did not know why the Captain should pick him out of the crowd except it was because he was working for Mr Cannon, and

His Worship : Oh, I suppose he knew nothing about that. On a fine of five shillings, with costs, being imposed, the accused said he would promise to pay in a month, or otherwise he would take it out in gaol.

Mr Turton said this was defying the Court, as Manning was in work, aud could easily pay the money. Accused was warned that he had rendered

himself liable for contempt, and a short time be’ng allowed, the money was soon forthcoming. Mr Winstone claimed his expenses,