The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-17 00:00:00

IMPORTANT TO MEMBERS OF FRIENDLY

SOCIATISS.

At the Highgate Petty Sessions, yesterday, a
summons was taken out by Mr. Thomas Andrews, of Goodge-
street, Tottenbam•court-road, • retired licensed victualler,
against the secretary and trustees of • Friendly Society,
held at the Gate House, Highgate, knows as the Good
lotution Frisadly Society, to recover the sum of 151. 15a.
which the complaisant alleged was doe to him as a member
of the mid society, who was sick, and which the defendant
refused to pay.
Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, of Frederick-street, Gray'oion-
road, appeared for the complainant. and stated that his
client had been • member of this society for
no lee • period than thirty yearn, and bad Dot,
except on two occasions, whoa be met with accidents,
received any benefit whatever from the society. His
father, too, had been • paying member of the society for
the not short period of 33 years, and not once in his life-
time received • peony from the society. The society sou
called the Good intention Friendly Society, although per-
sons who, in future, thought of joining the society would
have an opportunity when they Lad heard the defence,
under which the Pintoes sought to defeat this just claim,
of judging how ler the society was worthy of its name. Os
the 27th of November last, claimant being afflicted with
rheumatism in the knee, declared on the funds of the so-
ciety, and forwarded • medical certificate la this form
" Middlesex HospitaL —I hereby certify that Thome As-
drew, is an out patient of this institution, and enable to
attend to his employment —J. W. lit:tes." Rule 17
of the society required • medical certificate to be
emit every 14 days, and the claunast aooredingly
from time to time forwarded certificates. The
surgeon, however, cue day in January, by chinos asked
complainant what was the nature of his employment, and
on being told that he was out of business, the surgeon re-
plied that it was scarcely correct to certify that complaisant
was tumble to follow his employment whet he had some,
and the surgeon gave • certificate is the following form :
" I certify that Thomas Andrews is suffering from rheum-
Cam. and lean out patisat of this institution. J. W.
Hutu." This the complainant sect aa before, bat the
society refused to pay on it, alleging that it was informal, is
not stating that complainant was iscapable of attending to
his employment Complaioeat explained how the variation
arose, and contended that se the certified rules gave
no form of oertificate, it was sufficient, and particu-
larly as the rules provided that in the event of doubt
as to the member's diesel, the society might
equ appoint
any person to inquire into the same, or might ire the
member to make a declaration before • justice of the
peace that be was unable to work for his tilde'. The
defendants, however, refused to pay, and afterwards re-
quired the complainant again to declare oo the box, by
which be would have lost all arrears then du. He (Mr.
Ricketts) conteaded that the certificate was sulkiest, and
that it was shameful conduct on the part of the society to ea-
deavour to evade Unbind claim by one who had paid into the
fonds of the society for so many years, and who made this
provision in case of sickness, upon the narrow technical
grated of informality of the certificate. If, however, the
magistrates thought that certificate was insufficient, clearly
one that was lodged on the 22nd April, and which stated that
the claimant was " unable to follow any active employment,"
was sufficient

The complainant having been sworn. and given evidence
to the effect above stated,
Mr. Hammond, solicitor. of Moakley, sauteed the
beach for the defendants, who be said represented a society
of poor men, and had acted as they had is refusing to pay
the complainant, *maidens( that they would be personally
liable* they had paid on the certificate in gaieties. He
(Mr. Hanimoodl contended that both coruficatee were
valid, and that the complaisant wag not entitled to any-
thing until he agile declared on the foods of the society,
sad sent a certificate in the mine form as the first one, sent
in November.

The bench hawing retired for some time to consider their
drank:Do, ultimately considered that the certificate of
Jaanar► WWI informal, but that the one seek on the 2204 of
a pril was sufficient, from which time to the reseal they
ordered the defendenta to pay the complaisant at the rate
of 14a. per week, and also the costs of the order.

RE•DINGS TO THE WORKING CLARSF.S. —Mr. An-
drew Halliday, the well-known minor and teserist, gave,
last seeming, in the large room of the Yillweil Iron Works,
a reading selected from be own eontributioes to AU the
Year Round. The pieces chewer, for the ooeasion were
'' My Account with her Majeety," an may, pointing oat the
advantages of the Punt ollk• Savings Basks; " Exceedingly
Odd Odd Fellows," illostratiag in. squandering of working
men's money in dissipation and useless
Pandap ; sad a
charming little 11060-00MiE poem entitled Cock Robin."
The specious room was filled with working men and their
wives, and the reading was frequently interrupted by load
cheers mid "wester. The proceeding terminated with so
enthusiastic vote of thanks to Mr. Halliday.
A Farm. JEKT.—An event of a very melancholy
ammeter occurred oe Saturday toe visitor at the fashion.
able wateriwpolaoe of Witherneen, situate on the Yorkshire
exalt, named Robert Todd, • brewer, residieg at Otitis-
borough. That geollenise. it seems, whilst bathing in
the evening, folioed drowning, mid brought to his aide, by
hie cries for help, a number of bathers bard by. who found
him am Bale ea they, and laughing at having •• sold" them.
Some further arise for aid were beard to proceed from Mr.
Todd, but they were of coarse unheeded. This time, how.
ever, no boat wee want, he Wei really is imminent
peril ; but the natural coaseqssace of hie nofortunate folly
wee that he perished without the slightest effort being
mode eo wive him.

The number of patients received into the
Hospital far Mown at the Hiatt. st 67. Moristst-Ittyllti
Carsadishisisars, &nag the past week was Mk