The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-01-29 00:00:00

THE VICAR OF SYDLING IN THE
POLICE-COURT.

At the Borough Police-court yesterday (Monday)
before the Mayor (Dr. A.dridge), Mr. J. F. Hodges,
and Mr. G. .1.0. Gregom, The Rev. J. W. Vernon,
whose appearance at a scent mem and his coons-
unapt imprisonment for slander will be fresh in the
memory of our readers, was summoned for—" that
you did, on the sth of Jsmarv, at the pariah of fit.
Peter, within the said brouzit, use certain abusive
and imulting language toward. Thomas Dunning, of
Bydling, with intent to provoke a breach of the poem,
whereby or wher•from a Speech of the peace might
have been expected."
Mr. Howard was for :his complainant; end Mr.
Arthur Lock appeared for the defendant.
Mr. Howard proceeded to wen the case, when Mr.
Lock took a technical obaLon, which the Bauch
over-ruled, and he then asendened following it up
with overtures which were privately discussed at some
length by the learned genten.
. Howard said on beSan of Mr. Dunning he
would state he had no Irish to mem the matter in any
shape or form, so much no that if the defendant would
express his sorrow for the use of the words, and would
undertake not to repeat them, he would withdraw the
surnmoos._ . .

defendant remarked he had applied no such
words to the complainant, and therefore he could not
withdraw them. _
. . _ .

-I;;;p-ly to the Bench, Mr. Howard remarked the
affair took place on Saturday afternoon, on a market
day, near the Antelope, wont the defendant took Ma
stead, °bilged Mr. Dunning and hie brother to move
of the pavement, and, ss he pared, called him a
soonnotrid. _

—Tie—i"Own Clerk askia if there was any doubt as
to the tua of the words. If they were once admitted
there could be no reflectim or aomedit in expressing
sorrow for having used tem.
Mr. Howard mid this was the second time.
Mr. Lock mid the lingnage had Pm= &POW by
Mr. Dunning to Walsall, when he had no right to do
so.

—Mr. Howard: We tell you plainly we will not put
up with it. In every single Instance we will appeal
to the law. It was not only the language but the way
and manner in whirl it wail said_ We want Mr.
Vernon to understand that we are determined to have
peace in the parish.
Mr. Look, towing spoken to the defendant, said the
defendant had told Lim to say that he admitted the
use of the langsge, and was sorry for its use; but he
did not intend to apply it to Mr. Dunning, and he
wa
s sorry Mr. DunsMg had applied it to himself;
as:, in the future, ha would not h language.
Mr. Lock added the defendant had a I:autudt of t
aloud to himself.

Mr. Howard said, under the circumstances, he
would advise his client to withdraw from the CYO ;
but the habit of usiag insulting language aloud was •
very bad one, the more especially when there were
only two persons present to whom it could be applied.
The wooer he dropped such a practice the better.
He thought Mr. Dunning was acting in • eery
gentlemanly manner.
The Mayor Decidedly so.
The defendant said he was very sorry he had made
use of the words. It was not his intention to have
insulted Mr. Dunning but be had • habit of speak-
ing to himself. Many men who had sr tiered what
he had suffered would have gone out of their minds.
He had suffered through relatives before he had come
to the parish, the persecution had been c mtinued,
and a prejudice existed against him. If some people
could put offences upon him they would. Mr.
Dunning had allowed himself to be prejudiced against
him.