The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-11 00:00:00

OUTRAGE IN ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.

At the Mansion House on Saturday Charles Beere,
a respectable-looking young man, who was described
as a saddler, residing at 67, South-street, Greenwich,
was charged before Alderman Sir Thomas Owden
with violent conduct in St. Paul's Cathedral, and
doing wilful damage to the altar vessels to the extent
of 255. The prisoner, who was represented by Mr.
Howard, pleaded guilty. Dr. Freshfield, said that,
as representing the Chapter Clerk, he appeared to
prosecute the prisoner, who on Good Friday morning
attended the eight o'clock service in St. Paul's Cathe-
dral, when there was an early celebration of the
Holy Communion, at which the Dean was the
celebrant. The Dean was reciting the prayer for
the Church Militant, when he heard a noise be-
hind him. He thought it might be some person
fainting, and continued the service, but then sud-
denly he saw the whole of the altar vessels,
including the chalice and paten, swept bodily from the
commur ion table by the prisoner who was at once
given into custody. Considering the aggravating cir-
cumstances of the case—the time and the occasion:—
he had to ask the court to visit the offence with the
extreme penalty the Act allowed. Mr. Howard said
that on behalf of the prisoner and his friends he was
there to state that they deeply regretted the circum-
stances which had necessitated their presence before
the Court. During the last four weeks the prisoner's
mind had exhibited symptoms of becoming unhinged,
and he had been under medical treatment for brain
disease. The surgeon had recommended that he
should be sent on a long voyage, in the hope that he
might thus recover. His friends were not aware he
had left the house until breakfast time. The accused
had been compelled to leave his situation on account
of the state of his health. Dr. Freshfieid would like
to hear what the doctor had to say. The charge was
a very serious one, because it was no use disguising
the fact that this description of offence was catching.
The Dean would be the last person in the world to
wish to press a case harshly against any person suffer-
ing from any kind of affliction. They could not how-
ever, forget that these were days when they could not
allow disturbances to occur in places like St. Paul's
with impunity, as at any moment such an occurrence
might cause a panic and occasion serious loss of life
and injury. Therefore there was great responsi-
bility in this matter. The Alderman said that he
would adjourn the case for the production of the
medical certificate. On Tuesday Mr. Howard
said he had a medical certificate on the subject from
Dr. George Johnson, but although Dr. Johnson him-
self was not present to give evidence, there was a
witness who saw the certificate written. Mr. Lee
said be had letters written by Dr. Johnson to the
dean stating in what circumstances he saw the defen-
dant. Sir Thomas Owden said he thought he ought
to have the actual verbal evidence of the medical man.
Ultimately Mr. Lee said he was content to accept the
medical certificate as far as it went, but he should also
like to read the letters written by the doctor to the
dean. After some further conversation Mr. Lee read
the certificate, which was to the effect that the defen-
dant had consulted. Dr. Johnson for nervous depres-
sion, stating that he had recently been very much
depressed on account of the death of his employer,
which took place in very bad circumstances; suddenly,
during the consultation, the defendant exclaimed that
he was saved, and there was some reason to think
that he was suffering from religious excitement.
Mr. Lee said he was instructed to press for a sen-
tence of imprisonment, as the act was a premedi-
tated one, the defendant having been at the
cathedral on the previous day, as on several pre-
vious occasions there had been similar disturbances
caused by other persons. When one considered what
St. Paul's Cathedral was—the national meeting-place
of the Church of England—it was impossible to tell
what panic might not be caused by disturbances of
this description. Mr. Howard appealed to the alder-
man not to send the defendant to prison for the sake
of his widowed mother, whose death it probably would
be. There was no connectiun whatever between the
defendant and the persons who had caused the pre-
vious disturbances. In the certificate which had been
produced they had obtained the best medical evidence
they could in the circumstances. The friends of the
defendant were present, who had noticed a change in
his demeanour. On the morning in question they
had no idea that he had gone out of the house, or
else they would have watched him. In the opinion
of his friends, the defendant's mind had been off its
balance. Sir Thomas Owden said that no man could
be quite in his right mind at the time he caused a
disturbance of this sort in a cathedral, but still the
same plea could be urged on behalf of everyone who
did so. The defendant: I' regret it myself. I say
that it was an error of judgment, though I maintain
that the act in itself was a righteous one, although
out of season. I was mistaken in my judgment, and
therefore ill-advised. Sir Thanias Owden wished he
could have taken a different course than he was about
to do; but he saw nothing which affected his opinion
or which would lead him to alter his mind with regard
to the case. He did not see anything to show that
the defendant did not know what he was about at the
time, or that his act resulted from insanity. They
must make a stand against acts of that sort, as they
did not know how far they would be carried. He
could not do otherwise than sentence the defendant
to one month's imprisonment, without hard labour,
and it was very much to his regret that he did so.
Mr. Howard asked to be allowed to call his mother,
and the defendant also asked the court to consider his
excitement. The Alderman declined to accede to this
request. and the defendant was removed.

NEVER OLD.—" When does a woman begin to grow
old r was lately asked in an assembly of French-
women, who are said to be even more afraid of vieillir
than the women of other countries, although from the
nervous concealment of their age one should imagine
even in this country that not to remain eternally
young was a thing to be ashamed of. "With the
first grey hair," suggested one of the ladies, and
"when she ceases to inspire love," thought another.
The decision was finally put to a charming white.
haired matron of some sevehty years, who at once
replied, "What do I know about it? You must ask
an old woman to answer you such a question." Which
shows that at least one among the ladies had the
right recipe for remaining young.—Pall Mall Gazette.
THE ORATORICAL POWER OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.
—Dr. Russell, the well-known Times correspondent,
has a very high opinion of the oratorical powers of the
Prince of Wales. "There are very few men in Eng-
land (he sA,ys in Harper's) who can make so good a
speech as the Prince of Wales." He did not become
so good a speaker
.all at once, though his voice his
singularly far-reaching, clear,ipleasant, and his delivery
simple and dignified. Only by persisbent practice "ho
acquired command of language and a felicity of ex-
pression which commend his matter to the most
critical." His speeches at charitable dinners are so
successful that he makes the fortune of an institution.
His speeches on occasions of national importance are
"models." Dr. Russell ought to know, for he has
heard the Prince as often as any man living, save one
Thvs'c rAnnrtAr.