The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-08 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS IN A CHURCH.

At the Reephiun Petty Sessions, on the 27th ult., William
Joyce, shoemaker, of Itintry, who had been appointed
by the rector of the parish (the Rev. S. F. W. C. Hom-
fray) as his churchwarden, was charged with having
assaulted William Cronshay, farmer, on Sunday, July 22,
by forcibly turning him out of a seat in the church.
It seemed that the complainant had acted as leader of
the choir, who sat in the chancel, until the end of June
or the beginning of July, when, in consequence of some-
thing which was not explained by the evidence, complain.
ant received orders not to sit in the chancel. In cense-
quenco of that he saw Mr. Hastings and Mr Cubitt,
acting churchwardens, and they appropriated the front
seat, opposite the reading-desk, for tho singers. That
seat was so occupied on the let, Bth, and lfith of July
without interruption, but on the Tbid lon which day there
was a notice on the church-door to the effect that the
choir were not to sing) defendant went to complainant
before the service commenced, and asked him to leave the
pew. Complainant refuse lto quit the seat. whereupon a
aonsultation took place between defendant and the rector
in the vestry, and after the latter had proceeded to the
reading-desk and commenced the service, defendant took
complainant by his collar, and pulled him out of the seat.
Complainant, it appeared, conducted himself reverently'and
respectfully, and the congregation left the church en saauc,
one girl being thrown into hysterics. The defence set up
was that Joyce was actually the rector's churchwarden,
and had superseded Mr. Hastings ; moreover, that he had a
special right to the pew in question, which was attached to
his house. The bench, however, overruled these points, and
fined defendant 5/. with costa, it beingstated by defendant's
solicitor that the case would be taken to a superior court.
The rector was then charged with assaulting Mr. Cronshay
on Sunday, July 29. Complainant stated that he was
going to the church to fetch a hassock which belonged to
him, when he encountered defendant in the churchyard,
and on their arriving at the porch the latter put out his
hand and pushed complainant a yard or two. A cross
summons was taken out, and the rector said that in
endeavouring to pass into the church Mr. Cronshay pushed
against him. He (the rector) had not the least intention
of laying a hand on Mr. Creasing, who had annoyed him
at different times. After some deliberation the bench
fined Mr. Homfray 51. (including costs), and dismissed the
charge against Mr. Cronsbay. Mr. Cronshay and Mr.
Hume, another member of the choir, were also charged on
the information of William Joyce, with vexing, molesting,
and troubling the rector during the celebration of divine
service on Sunday, the 22nd ult., but no evidence was
offered in this oann-41nromi.

Sergeant Cole was then ordered to stand forward.
Mr. Payne—lt will be a sufficient reward for you to
know that both the grand jury and the traverse jury have
admired your conduct, and that I quite agree with them.
The officer on duty shall represent the case to the police
authorities at Scotland•yard.