The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-01-24 00:00:00

STRANGE SCENE IN A CHURCH.

At the Worship-street Police-court, on the 19th
inst., George Spackman Ryder, 39, described as a
school-keeper of the Board school, Hammond-square,
Roston; and Robert Thomas Draper, 30, warehouse-
man, of Ivy-lane, Hexton, were brought up in
custody charged with having been guilty of riotous
and violent behaviour at St. Anne's (Church of Eng-
land) Church, Haxton ; and, further, with having dis-
turbed and disquieted the Rev.. William M. Puttock,
vicar, while about to celebrate divine service. The
court was crowded. It appeared that for some con-
siderable time a feeling of animosity had existed
between the two prisoners concerning the right of
having a certain curtain in the church during divine
service. The curtain was used to divide the different
Sunday-school classes. The Rev. W. M. Puttock,
vicar, stated that a few minutes before seven o'clock
he was passing through the church towards the
vestry when he saw the two prisoners struggling
together in a desperate manner, and before they could
be separated several blows had been exchanged. He
saw Mr. Ryder strike a deliberate blow at the sexton
The Rev. C. J. Oliphant, curate at the church, was
not present at the commencement of the disturbance;
but suddenly he heard a great scuffling behind the
curtain in question, and on going forward he saw the
two prisoners rolling on the ground. He went for the
police, and the two prisoners were charged. Maria
Cranfield stated that she was in a seat close to where
th) scuffle took place. A few minutes before the time
arranged for the service to begin, Mr. Ryder got on
the seat and tried to draw back the curtains, but find-
ing them tastened, seemed much annoyed, and while
he was trring to unfasten them Mr. Draper interfered.
Some sharp words were used as to who had the right
of seeing to such matters, which ended in Mr. Draper
attempting to get Mr. Ryder off the seat. A scuffle
ensued, and several blows were exchanged. Cross-
examined, the witness said she believed the curtains
were used to make a "confessional." Several other
witnesses corroborated the above statements. The
Rev. Mr. Puttock stated he did not wish to press the
charge in either case. If Mr. Ryder would give an
undertaking that the occurrence should not be repeated,
he should be very happy to withdraw from the prose-
cution. Mr. Ryder,"after a consultation with his soli-
citor, said he was quite willing to give the promise de-
sired by the vicar. The charge was then dismissed.
John Kensitt, 33, a bootmaker, of East-road,
Hoston, was next placed in the dock on a simi-
lar charge of brawling in the church. The
charge arose out of the same case, and the evidence
was pretty much the same; but the principal allega-
tion against the prisoner was that he had called out
loudly in the church, "All seats free !" After the
evidence of the vicar, the curate, and some witnesses
examined in the previous case, Mr. Ryder was
called for the defence, and said that what he had
endeavoured to do in the church was to seat the con-
gregation, and for that purpose pulled back the cur-
tains in question. He himself bad spoken aloud to
Kensitt, telling him that all seats were free at that
church, but he admitted that Kensitt repeated that
observation to other persons. Mr. Bushby said that
surely the witness must have thought that was not
proper conduct in the church. The witness remarked,
of course, the church being quiet, it was heard more
plainly. Eventually Mr. Bushby decided that Kensitt
had violated the Act, and he fined him 40s. The
money was paid. There were charges by Mr. Ryder
against Robert Draper, and by Mr. Draper against
George Ryder, of cross-assaults, but on the sugges-
tion of the magistrates the charges were mutually
withdrawn.