DISTURBING THE SALVATION ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 3

DISTURBING THE SALVATION ARMY.

Before Messrs. C. D. Whifccombe and H. Wilding, at the Police Court yesterday, Henry Seabrook was charged with a breach of the Police Offences Act, 1884, section 3, sub-section 30, by disturbing a congregation of the Salvation Army, assembled for public worship, on July 22, at Dairy Flat Public School. Mr. o'Mea<*her appeared for the defendant, and pleaded " i\ot guilty." Mr. W. J. Napier appeared for the prosecution, and detailed the nature of the offence. Samuel McGonagle deposed that he was a member of the Salvation Army. and on July 22nd he was conducting a public service in the Fairy Plat schoolroom. The defendant was there. He had been "a soldier" of the Army, but was now "a backslider." The defendant began his annoyances by rapping on the edge of the seats. He next began to "cluck." Witness asked for quiet, but the defendant continued his interruptions, and witness repeatedly cautioned the defendant. Witness was disturbed in his remarks and prayers, and the attention of the meeting was drawn to 'the defendant. At the latter part of the meeting defendant " rushed up" to the front, and wanted to address the people; but, as that was against the rules, the Army sang a chorus, which they usually did on such occasions. The defendant did not desist, and another chorus was sung. At its conclusion the defendant called out, "You are a lot of I) y curs," and "It is all lies." Witness had to close the meeting in consequence of defendant's conduct. In cross-examination by Mr. O'Meagher, witness said he was " a soldier and a gunidigger." He had authority to conduct the meeting, and had got his orders from "headquarters" in Auckland. William Holster, a member of the Salvation Army, and doorkeeper at the Army's services at Dairy Flat, was examined. George A. Green said he attended the meeting in question, and saw defendant making a noise with his knuckles and by clucking. _ Heard McGonagle several times caution defendant generally and particularly. The attention of the congregation was called to defendant. Heard defendant call out., "All you have been saying is lies, and I'm going to expose you to ' the people." He also called to the people to sit down. The defen lant also designated McGonagle " a cur," " a liar," and " a hypocrite." McGonagle closed the meeting to prevent defendant addressing the people. In cross-examination witness admitted that others did do some "clucking," but he did not know whom. Samuel J. Frost, a fanner at Lucas' Creek, was examined. John H. Tombolt deposed to being present at the meeting in question. He saw defendant there and heard noises, but could not say the defendant made them. The defendant was accused of making noises that he (witness) had made. Witness had done some clucking. Witness heard defendant say he desired to expose McGonagle, and call him names. George Green and Frederick Watson were examined. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. O'Meagher, for the defence, pointed out that the beat inn of time and clucking; might have been accidental, and that part of the matter was trivial. The defendant deposed that he had belonged to the Army, but left it about seven weeks ago. He had found McGonagle out in telling lies, and his word could not taken for anything. Defendant might have done the rapping and clucking, but he did not do it knowingly, or to interrupt the meeting. He had always attended the meetings, and behaved himself, and went there that evening with the intention of doing so. But during the meeting McGonagle began to preach at witness, accused him of sneering and backsliding. Witness got up to reply, when McGonagle began to sing him down. Defendant was willing to swear before God that he had not used profane or indecent language. He did call him a "lying hypocrite." The Benediction had been pronounced before he did this. In cross-exami-nation defendant said he might have used oaths outside the building, but not inside, and lie did not use the words he admitted using inside till the meeting had ended, and the Benediction had been pronounced before he used the words, and only then after asking permission to speak and being refused. Frank Linden, William Gruby, John Bellamy, and lid ward Keely were examined for the defence. The Bench considered the case proved, and thought acts of that kind should not be permitted whatever the meetings were. It had become too common to interrupt meetings. It did not matter whether it was a concert, a political meeting, or any other meeting, they should not be interrupted. Whatever might be the opinion as to tiio manner in which the Salvation Army conducted their meetings, they had a right to protection when in a building, and engaged in their worship. There was no doubt the Army's way of parading the streets, carrying banners, flaring torches, shouting, and playing with their band, was an intolerable nuisance, as was " the siren " in the harbour, but when the Army was in a building, they had a right to protection, and the defendant .would be fined the highest penalty the Act allowed, £5 and costs. The costs were £7 9s. The defendant said he had not the means to pay, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment as an alternative. A Second Charge.— was also a charge against the same defendant for an assault on the same occasion on McGonagle, but in view Oi the line and sentence, the complainant withdrew the charge on the defendant entering into his own recognisances in XW, to keep the peace for six months.