A Vestry Fight.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 512, 30 September 1890, Page 3

A Vestry Fight.

Hrtig ten minutes to one on a recent Friday morning the Clerkenwell vestry sat in angry debate ever a proposal of the Finance Committee to remunerate the chief clerk and his staff for extra work in the quinquennial revaluations. There were the usual personalities and scenes of confusion peculiar to this board, and remarks such as, “ You are a liar,” •* You little rascal,” “ You vagabond,” “You are an unmitigated liar,” etc., etc., were frequent, notwithstanding the energy with which the chairman wielded his gavel and called for order, The ratepayers’ gallery was crowded during the whole of the six hours’ meeting, and the people up there shouted and applauded, and joined in the hilarity which some of the wits of the Board created. But the climax was reached about a quarter to one in the morning, when Mr Jrhn Ross enunciated something to upset Mr George Elcock. The latter gentle, man rushed round the table, and excitedly exclaimed, “You say that again!” Mr Boss repeated his assertion, and Mr Elcock struck him a violent blow with his fist in the left eye, which caused an immediate swelling. Mr Boss retaliated by shying one of the heavy metal inkstands at the °head of his opponent, but this, fortunately, missed its mark, and did no greater harm than smothering Mr Elcock in ink and breaking a large piece of the board-room table. This incident caused intpnse excitement, and the occupants of the gallery howled and hissed, and the members of the vestry looked ap - palled. Meanwhile Mr Boss had been led out of the hall and taken home.—-In the end a vote was taken, and the proposal to compensate the clerks adopted: but the meeting broke up in considerable disorder.