The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

DISGRACEFUL SCENES IN A CHURCIL

The St. Augustine petty session on Saturday
was occupied nearly two hours (says the Kentish Gazeftt) in
tbo investigation of two charges of assault alleged to have
been committed in Seaulter Church oa Sunday, the 27th
ultimo. In the first cue George Hayward, jun., ropensaker,
wan charged with assaulting George How, grocer. and iu
the second George How WAS chargd with assaulting Rios
Fanny Hayward, sister of the defendant in the first case.
Mr. Allen Fielding appeared for the defendant in the first
,ase, and for the complainaut in the second. The assaults
arose out of the disputed right to certain seata in one of the
pews in the pariah church of Seemlier. Mr. How
deposed that he went to church on Suodav morn-
ins, the 27th ultimo, but was prevented by the defeodant
George Hayward from going into a pew in which be
claimed two sesta. As he attempted to enter the pew,
which was then occupied by Hayward and two ladies, the
defendant puked him back several times, and on one occa-
sion pushed him nearly down. This constituted the assault
coruplaioed of. Mr. Holding, on behal of the defendant,
contended that Mr. How had uo right to the pew, the seats
in which belonged to the Hayward family, and that no as-
milt had been committed. The alleged paining tram denied,
but the defendant admitted that he prevented Mr. flow
from entering the pew. Mr. Nichola, churchwarden. was
riled, and deposed that two wets in the pew in question
bed been elicited to Mr. How, and that the remaining three
only belonged to the Hayward family. The magistrates
held that an emelt had been committed, inasmuch as the
defendant had, by by own admission, prevented the com.
plainest going where be bad a right to go. They therefore
(iced the defendant ln. and 14s. costs. The case of the
alleged gnomish by Mr. How on Miss Hayward was then
proceeded with. It appeared that in the evening Mr. How,
accompanied by his wife, again attended church. Os en•
tering he found the pew occupied by Mr. Gcorgs Hayward,
Miss Fanny Hayward, the complainant. and two other ladies.
Mrs. How was permitted to go into the pew and take
the seat furthest from the door, but Mr. Ilayesrd pre-
vented Mr. How from accompanying her. Mr. How then
went into an adjoining pew. jumped over the partition to
join his wife, and, as was alleged sat himself down on the
knees of the complainant, who WAS next to his wife. He
continued to sit on Miss Hayward's knees for five or six
minutes, though repeatedly requested by her to get up.
This constituted the alleged assault, and the circumstance
was distinctly sworn to by the complainant and another
young lady who was in the pew at the time. The de-
fendant denied sitting down in Miss Ilaywerd's lap. He
said there was plenty of room for six in the pew, and that
he only sat down between his wife and Miss Hayward.
In doing so he might, perhaps., have sat on Ilise Hay ward's
dress, but nothing more. The magistrates deliberated a
few moments, after which Mr. Delmar said they were
unanimously of opinion that an assault had been committed.
It W 2.1 very ungallant u well as very unseemly to sit down
in a lady's lap, at any rate without her ermunt, and the
magistrates would, therefore, tine him 10s. and 12s. costa.
Mr. How wished to say that the occurrence in the evening
would not have happened if it had sot been for what took
place is the moraiug.

Last night the Rev. N. Hall addressed a large
assembly of working men at Surrey Chapel on the present
aspect of the American question. Re congratulated the
friends of emancipation on the degree in which the hopes
they had indulged in a year ago had been realised, while
the predictions of their opponents had been signally con-
tradicted by facia. _ .

The estimated cost of the proposed new line
from the Keot Coast and South Eastern Railway to Rama.
gate, with • central terminus there, is 266,6001.
WORKING MEN'S COLLEGE., GREAT ORMOND-
STREET.-lAllt night the Christome rourerlauioxe of the
members and friends of the Working Men's College
took place io the rooms of the college, Great Ormond-
, street, the attendance being very owl:taros'. Every-
thing that could contribute towards the gratification sod
amusement of thou assembled war done. Nearly all
the rooms of the college were thrown open to the
visitors, and in each war some little exhibition of
peculiar interest to the membeis—auch as the pencil,
chalk, and water-colour drawings of the students,
sketches, &e., geological and entomological col-
lections, besides summons stereoscopic views and
micmecopie objects. A small portfolio of sketches in
pencil and pen and ink (some of which have written
upon them instructions to the engraver), by the late Mr.
Tbackeray, was a chief feature of attraction, and collected
many successive groups of admirers around it. For the
nonce, the ordiesry library and reading-room of the college
was decorated with holly end transformed into a banqueting
room, where the company partook of tea, furnished by Mr.
Earee, to which they did ample justice. The proceedings
were enlivened by wino vocal music by the choir of the
college. Amongst those present were—the Rev. F. D.
Maurice, pnocipsl of the college ; Lowe' Dickinson,
Esq.; Thom. laugher. Req.; J. Lee. Eaq.; J. M. Ludlow,
Esq. ; Vernon Lushingtou FAq 8.C.1..• F. C. Penrose,
M.A.; Mr. John Roebuck.; A. Sonnenachein, ; W. T.
Sutton, Esq.; J. Westlake, Y. A.; Mr. G. Tansley, Ac.
SAVAGE ATTACK EY A DRUNKEN POLICEMAN.—
A member of the Leeds police force, named Linfoot, was
ordered into custody on Sunday morning is consequence of
amu named Heroes being taken into the Leeds Infirmary
in a very dangerous state. Betimes 1 and 2 o'clock in the
morning Litifoot took Barnes to the polies-station of his
distort, and the condition he was in so alarmed the sergeant
on duty that medics] advice was immediately sought. There
are Dive wounds on the head and face, with eviderom of
several other blows. In one place the skull is fractured,
and in five there is penetration to the bone. The right
side of the lower jaw is also broken. It may well
be imagined that a person suffering from such injuries
most be in • precarious condition, and yeateeday the
surgeons at the infirmary considered him to be in
an extremely dangerous state. It appears that Linfoot,
the policeman, on Saturday night had been exacting drink
from various innkeepers, as well as taking advantage of his
official position to make free with the commodities of sho
keepers in his district, one of the out-township", and while
in an intoxicated state he met about midnight with • man
earnest Cardingley, whom be beat with has staff, stating
that Le bad knocked his hat off. Some other men cause up
sod aided his escape, but Linfoot immediately after en-
countered Barnes, and belaboured him so savagely with
his staff that he wits brought into the shocking state be-
fore described. Yesterday the Mayor and other magi'.
trates examined into the charge against Linfoot at the Town.
ball, seal after hearing the statements of several witnesses,
reminded the prisoner for a week.