QUARREL IN A CHURCH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 November 1924, Page 3

QUARREL IN A CHURCH.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST VICAR DISMISSED. LONDON, Sept. 4. A dispute respecting the conduct of the services in the parish church of Kingswear had a sequel in the police court, on Friday, when the vicar, the Rev. F. M: Dowlaiid-Ryan, appeared in answer to a summons charging him with assaulting Sir Thomas Leonard, the people’s churchwarden. There was A cross-summons by the vicar, charging Sir lhoinas Lettnavd With riotous, violent, and indecent behaviour in the church. On behalf of Sir Thomas Leiiiiard it' was stated that the Archdeacon, of Totnes had been requested to hold an inquiry, and notice of a meeting of Che parochial electors was received from him and posted in the church porch. On Sunday afternoon it was found that the notice had been removed. Sit. Thomas Leimard said he met the vicar as he was leaving the church and asked him about the reproval of the notice. The vicar declined t'o discuss the matter and called Sir Thomas a fool. He replied “and, you are a cad.’ The vicar followed 'this remark with a violent blow on the chest, which glanced up to the jaw and caused him to stagger against the wall of the church. - In cross-examination Sir Thomas sa had lived at Bristol ror 25 years, and now lived just inside the boundary of the parish of Kingsw®ar - He was a member of the parochial church council. At tlie suggestion of the council he met the vr-ar m the vestry on May 31. On that occasion the vicar threatened him but afterwards sent a letter of atoVy. the object of the meeting referred to in the Archdeacon’s notice was to pass aiesolution asking the vicar to resign. He denied that he made a disturbance While waiting for the vicar on Sunday afternoon. The trouble arose because the vicar had introduced the Mass, the confessional, and incense in He church services. The vicar, in his evidence, admitted that at the interview on May 31 he was hurt by some statements by Sir liiomas Lennard, and said that If he had been a yoiinger map He would have called him a, liar and knocked him down. With regard to the notice posted m the church, he regarded it ms incorrect and took it down. It was not true that he struck the con plamant, though he pushed him, and be thought he was justified in doing that to prevent a brawl in tlie church lhe Bench dismissed the charge 0t assault against the vicar and the charge against Sir Thomas Lennard was withdrawn.