A CURIOUS CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5490, 21 June 1879, Page 7

A CURIOUS CASE.

As action lias lately been brought by a livery-stable keeper, by name Parker, at Holyoke, Maseachusetts, against a Roman Catholic priest, Fa.ther Dufresne, unler peculiar circumstances. Some time ago an apostate priest named Chiniquy visited Holyoke, and preached in Protectant churches against the Koman Catholic religion. Uuiug eloquent as he «as violent he drew Urge audiences, and many French R'jtnan Catholics went to hear him. Father Dufresne forbade his congregation from doing so, and threatened to excommuuicate anybody who disobeyed his order. The livery-stable keeper, however, who was a member of Father Dufresne's flock, disobeyed this order, and went more than once to hear Chiniquy preach. On the following Sunday, Father Dufresne cautioned his people to hire no horses and carriages from the refractory livery-man, declaring that ho would refuse the commanioQ, to all who continued to do any business with him. The priest, in accordance with his announcement, refused to officiate for thoso wedding and funeral parties who used Parker's carriages. The consequence was the utter ruin of Parker's business, and he claimed 10,000 dollars damages for the losses he had sustained. These facts wera conceded by the defence, bat it was argued that the priest had simply exercised his right to guide his congregation without assailing Parker's character of doing anything unlawful. The judge instructed the jury to find a verdict for the defendant, and Parker has received a lesson which he is , net likely to forget against, flittingj.about from one Church to another, ' I