END OF A REMARKABLE CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1440, 28 June 1879, Page 23

END OF A REMARKABLE CASE.

Joseph Parker, a livery ttable keeper in Holyoke. Massachusetts, rus lost a suit for $10,000 damages againsS Father Dofresne, a Roman Catholic priest. The circumstances were peculiar. In 1866 an apostate Roman Catholic priest, named Obioiquy, visited Holyoke and preached in Protestant churches agaiuat the Romati Catholic religion. He was eloquent and violent, going ao far on one occasion as to grind beneath his feet a, wafer, suoh as is used in the eucharist by Boman Catholics, aud say : "They tell you there is a God in that ; if there is, let him come out." He drew large audiences, and many French Roman Ua! holies went to hear bim. Father Duf resne forbade his congregation from doing so, and threatened to excommunicate whoever disobeyed his order. Parker went to hear Chiniquy again, and on the following Sunday Father Dufreane cautioned his people to hire no horses and carriages from him, declaring that ho would refuse the commuuion to all who continued to do any business with the offending liveryman. The priest subsequently refused to officiate for those wedding and funeral partieg that rode in Parker's vehicles. Tl<e consequent was the ruin of Parker'* business. All theie facts were conceded by tho defence, but it was argued that tho prie&t had simply exerc'sed hi 3 right to guide hiß congregation, without assailing Parker's character or doing anything unlawful. The judge inatructsd the jury to find a verdict for the defendant.