The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

THE NEW BEER BILL.

meeting of the licensed victuallers of the metropolis
was held yesterday at the Golden Eagle, Mile-end-road,
fit the purpose of taking into consideration the present
position of that body with reference to the provisions of
the new Beer Bill, and for the purpose of taking steps
for forming themselves into a new society, to be called
" The Licensed Victuallers' Defence Association." Mr.
Foster, of St. John's-gate, Cierkenwell, presided.
TheCHAIRUAN, in opening the proceedings, stated that
he was sorry to see so small an attendance of persons pre-
sent ; but he accounted for it by meetings having been
advertised to be held in all the districts of the metropolis,
and not from any lukewarmness in the cause. Their
object in meeting together was to form a society to pro-
tect their interests, and not only theirs, but the interests
of the public, which had been most shamefully invaded.
The act which had been passed through the house in
such a hasty and disgraceful manner would be prejudi-
cial to their interests, but would not have the effect sup-
posed, for it gave plenty of time to a drunken man to
get intoxicated, and if it was meant to allow them (the
publicans) time to go to church it was a decided failure,
for they were permitted to open their doors while the
church bells were ringing. If they wanted to make
people go to church, they had better close the public-
houses altogether, and pass an act for that purpose.
Seeing that they were the most heavily taxed trades-
men in the world, that • they had to pay for their
licences, and had to put up with all the inconveniences
of the billeting system, he thought it was too bad that
they should be compelled to close their houses without
being consulted, or without at least having some of their
taxes remitted. He concluded by stating that it was
for the interest of all to join this society, and by calling
upon the secretary to read the minutes of the last
meeting.
The minutes having been read,
Mr. Slags moved the first resolution, 011ie effect
" That this meeting, approving of the movement,
made 'it the formation of the Licensed Victuallers
Defence Society, pledge themselves to do all in their
oower to forward the objects of that association."
He complained strongly of the conduct of those who had
pretended to represent them, and stated that it was a
falsehood to describe the tradesmen of the city of Lon-
don as being indifferent to the effect the new bill would
have upon their fellow-tradesmen and the public. The
paper which was supposed to represent them bad done
all in its power to crush this new society by putting
forth false and garbled reports of its meetings ; and when
several of its members had waited upon the Incorporated
Society, who not only took alleading part in that but in
all their other societies, they bad been told to keep quiet.
It was disgraceful that the hardworking man who took
his wife and children to Greenwich or Hampstead
should be compelled to go without his refreshment.
They had been told to wait until Parliament met,
but now was the time for agitation, for the working
classes wonld4not take long country walks in Decem-
ber, and he was of opinion that they ought to be
prepared for any emergency, and that they ought to
get up meetings and organisations for the purpose
of having petitions ready for presentation to both houses
of Parliament. If the trade had taken the bill in their
own hands, instead of trusting it to the Protection So-
ciety, it would not have passed in its present form, and
he thought it was very great presumption for a few gen-
tlemen to give their assent to the provisions of such a
bill without calling a general meeting of the trade—it
was, in fact, a presumption which they had no warrant
t'or taking. It was not only the case of the publicans,
but it was the case of the public. Were the numerous
parties, who went out of town on a Sunday, after work-
ing hard every day in the week, to be bartered away by
three or four gentlemen. (Cries of " Sold," and great
cheering.)
Mr. BUTTERFIELD seconded the motion,
Mr. KINSELLAR said that he had been requested by
Mr. Pitcher, of St. George's-road, to state that several
clubs met at his house and afterwards took excursions
into the country, and on their return they could get no
refreshment. The consequence was to him a loss of
something like 201. He considered that the public had
a large interest in the matter, and thought they should
have a voice in the decision of this question. There was
no doubt that the Protection Society had passed this
measure, for all that they had done to oppose this
bill was to delay the third reading from nine until ten
o'clock.

Mr. PETO said that he heartily approved of this new
society, and stated that the only good this bill had done
and would do was to benefit the illicit trader, who had
no property at stake, and who did not care about losing
his license.
The motion was then put, and carried nem. dis.
Mr. GRIMES moved the next resolution, as follows :
" That this meeting, representing as it does both the
interests of the trade and the feeling of the public,
whilst strongly deprecating the silence of the Morning
Advertiser, their supposed organ, with respect to the
late act, and its garbled reports of meetings held to effect
an alteration, does warmly express its thanks to such
portion of the daily and weekly press as has advocated
the justice of the present movement, and faithfully re-
corded matters of such great and universal importance."
He entered at great length into the matters complained
of, and remarked that the paper which was supposed
to represent their interests had completely sold
them. The heads of that paper, who were all con-
nected with the Sabbatarian party, had told him, when
he waited upon them in company with a deputation
of other gentlemen, that they had better remain quiet.
and allow this sop in the pan to be given to the reli-
gious party in the House of Commons, or else they might
suffer when the whole question of the public-hotoes
came before the Legislature, but was of opinion that
they had taken the sop themselves. That paper had at
first refused their advertisements, but they were after-
wards obliged. He concluded by moving the xeso-
lution.

Mr. HARRIS seconded the motion, which, after a
long conversation, was put and carried, and the meeting
separated.

THE NEW BEER LAW-WHO IS A TRA-
VELLER?

Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. R. Luce, landlord of the
King's Arms Hotel, Hampton Court, appeared before Col.
Wood, and a bench of magistrates, sitting in petty ses-
sion at Hampton, to answer on summons the complaint
of the police authorities, for keeping his house open on
the 120th inst., during the hours, from half-past two to
six p.m., prohibited by the recent act for the better re-
gulation of the sale of beer on Sundays.
Mr. Guy, of the firm of Guy, Read, and Harris, of
Cannon-row, Westminster, solicitors for the Metropo-
litan and Suburban Protection Society, appeared for
the defence.

The clerk having read the charge.
Mr. Guy stated that ho was willing to admit all the
facts of his client having kept his house open and having
supplied his customers with refreshments, in the convic-
tion that they were bona fide travellers within the
meaning of.the act.
Colonel Wood thought that, for the regularity of their
proceedings, it would he advisable to hear evidence on
the point.

Mr. Harden, J.P., remarked that the present was a
criminal and not a civil proceeding, and could not, there-
fore, be decided on a mere admission of facts on both
sides.
Sergeant C. Churchill, 2.3 V, was then sworn, and de-
posed that on the 20th instant, between half-past three
and four p.m., he entered the establishment of the
defendant, when lie found in one room twelve per-
sons taking refreshments, others not, wine and beer
being before them on the table. He also entered
three other rooms. In one he found two persons,
whom the landlord told him formed a private
party. In the third room, No. 10, there were four
persons having refreshment, one of whom, when questioned
to that effect, replied that he was a traveller ; but that
when witness further inquired if he had come to see the
beauties of the palace, he made no reply ; that thereon
the landlord stated that he (witness) had no right to put
such questions to his customers. Witness remarked
that No. 10 was painted on the door, and asked if it was
entered with the Excise, claiming his right to enter it if
were, to which question the defendant replied in toe
affirmative.

him that the persons whom he found on the
dnaerirgihvbeoduirn-
Mr. Guy cross-examined the witness, and el
premisesicitedfrom
iwmeor
de aal ln sdt rrah nagt ehr
he
, hadas fna ro
adso blie tltnheaTt hthe ythh had
their own vehicles, by railway, or by omnibus. They had
all the appearance of being travellers. He did not notice
the hall-book, in which the defendant required each
person requesting refreshment during the prohibited
hours to subscribe, giving his address or statement to
the effect that he was a bona fide traveller, but had the
Sunday previous heard from him that he kept such a
book. The wine and beer on the tables did not form a
great quantity, and did not exceed the limit of reason-
able refreshment with dinner or lunch.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Colonel Wood stated that the bench had determined
to take the hall book as evidence in defence, and that a
majority of them were of opinion that the persons served
by Mr. Luce were travellers within the meaningof the
act, and that the summons should be dismisse
d. The
decision was hailed with enthusiasm by those who
crowded the court, but the demonstration of it
was
restrained by the police.
Mr. Luce having thanked the bench, the parties
withdrew.

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At the Hammersmith Police Court, the Rev. .ho s
Tierney Ferguson, D.D., the Roman Catholic priest o
St. Thomas's chapel, in the Fulharn•fields, was charged
with having performed a marriage in the absence of th•
registrar, contrary to the statute.
Mr. Martin attended on behalf of the complainant,
and Mr. T. Ally Jones, solicitor, of Hammersmith, also
appeared to watch the case for the Board of Guardians
of the Fulham Union. Mr. Harting, of Lincoln's-inn-
fields, attended for the rev. defendant.
Mr. Alfred Taylor, the chief clerk, was about to read
the summons to the defendant, to ascertain if he pleaded
guilty or not guilty, when
Mr. Harting submitted to his worship that inasmuch
as the case could not be settled in that court, it would
be advisable to send the matter at once to the Central
Criminal Court, and he would put in bail to any amount
for the appearance of Dr. Ferguson at the sessions.
Mr. Paynter was unable to deal with the case in that
manner, and said he was bound to treat it as he would
any other charge of felony, and therefore he must go into
the case for the purpose of taking the depositions.
Mr. Martin said if Prince Albert was charged with
felony, the depositions would have to be taken in the
usual way.
Mr. Paynter observed that he was bound to treat Dr.
Ferguson as he would any other individual.
Mr. Harting explained that it was not on that account
that he suggested the case should at once be sent to the
sessions, but for the purpose of saving the time of the
court.

Mr. Paynter then inquired if Dr. Ferguson was in
attendance ?
The Rev. Mr. Ferguson, who had been sitting at the
side of his prOfessional adviser, here rose and replied in
the affirmative.
Mr. Paynter told the defendant that he might remain
sitting until after Mr. Martin had concluded his obser-
vations upon the case.
The complainant, a very respectable looking girl,
having
inbeen sworn, said, My friends live near Brent-
wood, . Essex, where I was brought up. I WAS
educated in the Protestant faith. About two years ago
I was in service in Fulhara-fields, with a gentleman
named Gosling. While there I became acquainted with
Thomas Cokely. He was a Roman Catholic . He promised me marriage, and in consequence
of that a
closer intimacy took place between us, and I became in
the family way. I had a, little money saved up—about
N.—and be broke open my box and took it out. I
threatened to prosecute him, and he gave it me back,
I went to Mr. Cornell's office by myself, and obtained
a certificate for the marriage to take place in Holland-
street Chapel. I gave it to the man (Cokely). I went
to Mr. Strowther two or three days before the marriage
took place, but I did not see him. I saw a lady there.
The night before the marriage I saw Dr. Ferguson in
the chapel. The defendant asked me if I had a mind to
be married in his chapel. He had previously takes
Cokely into the vestry-room, and he told me that
Cokely had no objection. I said I didn't mind, but the
certificate mentioned Holland•street Chapel. He said
the certificate did not signify, and that he could marry
us. She did not see Cokely give the defendant the
certificate, but he had the certificate in his band when
he said the certificate was not material. The defendant
would have married us then, but we bad not the fees.
She did not hear him say that, but she understood he
told Cokely so in the vestry-room. After the defendant
told me there was no need for the certificate, he said
come down in the morning and I'll marry you. He
told me that he would marry us in private, and that I
was to say nothing about it. He told me that after he
had married me.

Mr. Paynter— I don't understand you. Do you
mean to say that he told you he had married you in
private after he had married you ?
Witness—.No, sir. He told me bofore we were mar-
ried that he would marry me in private, and after the
marriage took place he told me to say nothing about it.
Examination continued—l went to the chapel the
next morning and sat down. There were several persons
there. They were :,ttending mass. I saw Dr. Ferguson
first at the altar. He afterwards went into the vestry,
and when he came out he beckoned me to him. I went
into the vestry and Cokely followed me. The defendant
then closed the door.
Mr. Paynter—Did Dr. Ferguson change his dress
when he left the altar, or did he put anything else on ?
The Witness—No, sir. He married us in the same
dress that ho wore in the altar. The defendant said
something in Latin. I could not understand what it
was. He read it from a book. Cokely asked for his
father to come in, and the defendant said there was no
need for any witness, but told Cokely he might be pre-
sent. His father came in, and we were the only persons
in the room all the time. I said, in English, " I take
thee, Thomas Cokely, for my wedded husband ;" and
Thomas Cokely said, "I take thee, Hannah Sarah Steel,
for my wedded wife." •

Mr. Martin—Was that all that was said in English ?
The Witness—No, sir. A ring and a shilling txere
put in my hand, and Cokely had to say, I give thee gold
and silver. There was something else added, but I
don't recollect what it was. We had to repeat it after
Dr. Ferguson. I got the certificate produced from the
defendant, as I wanted to satisfy my friends that I was
married. I saw the defendant write it. He copied it
from no book.

The certificate was handed in, and it read as follows :
—" These are to certify, that Hannah Sarah Steel and
Thomas Cokely were married on the Bth of September,.
1853. Thomas Tierney Ferguson, D.D., St. Thomas m
Chapel, September 16.."
Examination continued—l took the certificate to my
fattier, arid be would not believe I was married, and he
turned me out. I afterwards went to Dr. Ferguson,
and told him that my father was not satisfied, and he
said he could not help it, and that lie could not give me
another certificate. He put a shilling into my hand and
told me not to say anything about it.
Mr. Martin--llid he tell you not to disgrace yourself
by going into a court ?

Witness—He did not say so, but sent out that mes-
sage by his servant.

Mr. Harting, upon being asked if he had any ques-
tions to put to the witness, said, " I have no questions
to ask."
Mr. Martin—At this stage of the proceedings I have
to ask for an adjournment, for the purpose of having the
attendance of Mr. Strowther, who was unable to appear
this day in consequence of an attack of illness.
Mr. Paynter—Then on the next occasion Mr. Taylor
(the chief clerk), who understands the case from what
has been stated, will be able to take the depositions.
It will not last long, and all the proceedings will be of a
formal character. I suppose Mr. Strowther is the de-
puty-registrar ?
Mr. Cornell—No Sir. Mr. Strowther's office is quite
distinct to mine. He is the registrar of the marriages
for the whole of my district, and it is his duty to be pre-
sent at all these marriages and to record them in what is
termed the " marriage register book."
Mr. Paynter—Wnat do you understand covers a re-
gistered buildin,,—would it include the vestry-room ?
Mr. Cornell—Yes, sir, I should say it would. If
the vestry-room is the usual place for solemnising
marriages, then I think that would be sufficient. I
know that marriages are very often performed in these
places.

Mr. Paynter—l think it will be necessary, Mr.
Martin, to have evidence that marriages are performed
in the vestry-roorn of the chapel.
Mr. Martin—l don't think from w:iat I have heard
that it is usual to marry in the vestry.
Mr. Paynter—At all events you must have evidence
to prove one way or the other.

Mr. Harting—l am prepared with bail to any
amount.

Mr. Paynter—l must have very good bail, and to a
large amount, for the defendant's appearance. It is a
very serious offence. I'll accept two sureties in 4001.
each, and herself in 8001.

Mr. Harting said his client had nn idea of avoiding
the inquiry, and that he was anxious for the fullest in-
vestigation.

Substantial bail having been put in, the defendant
immediately rotired with his friends.

THE MOORS, FORESTS, AND RIVERS. —The moors
(says the Inverness Courier) continue to yield abundant
sport, and the birds never were in finer condition at
this season of the year. We resume our notes of
the sport at a few of the best northern moors. Mr.
.Akroyd and Mr. Edwards have had satisfactory
sport at Glenshero during the last week, Mr. Alt•
royd having killed 280 brace, and Mr. Edwards 230
brace. Mr. Wyn Williams and his friends have had
excellent sport on the Glen-Tulchen moors ; they
killed 736 brace in the first six days, and found the
birds numerous, strong, and healthy. Mr. Archibald
Hastie, M.P., and Mr. Stephenson have been shooting
on the Dunearn moors ; on
bagged 34 the 12th, the former
brace grouse and a hare, and the latter
40A brace and 2 hares ; on the 14th, shooting together,
they bagged 36 brace in a few hours. From Laggnall
we learn that, notwithstanding te sof the -
ther, the party there had fair sporht towet winest :- —l6th instwea.,
Lord H. Bentinck, 41 brace ; Mr. King, 55 ; Mr. Hall,
23:. and a brace of snipe ; Mr. Walker, 30. 18th inst.,
Mr. Walker, 60 brace
Hall ; Lord H. Bentinck,•27 ; and Mr.
, 35. The sport is much better than was expected.
Lord Cawdor and friends (four guns) killed 500 brace of
grouse in four days' shooting. The Duke of Richmond':
party at Glenfiddich shot 1,200 brace in seven days. The
party at Carr-bridge killed about 800 brace of grouse,_
besides other game, during the first four days.
13almacaan, the Earl of Seafield, on the 17th—the Afirst
rrdayhe
snipe,his
success
lneocdredsfssohuiorpffbwe
bares
so u; t to
the—
sbpaogrt birdssemd
wesnesrtbeoh rneas ct
there oon grouse,fgma onodr s oneh awild.s
forests. Very
checked their ardour in making for the
We have heard
few deer or stags have yet been shot.
E ard Kerrison shot two
of the following only
clear of velvet—the earliest
and the other carried eleven.
beads was a royal one,
stags,L , v
a t , rightat
Gal
ennds t
7,left,
f:itaSr:Atr,
1 tonfa
shot bt aht r‘evr
oo
season—onew
stagsth e
with N f a
os thf eortr
tno
oaf
y at Auchintoul, Helmsdale,
of throwing a fresh into most
h have fallen among the hills this
points;
week have
of the northern rivers.Ti)ahvoehkeailvlyedrtahioresewdhei.oer, a stag, and a couple of hind,.
joaApSiniesmpLuEblipeatr.n7 .t—ooAk pflraice_ne..d.olyil dkuloeln,dasyaysafttehren San
M aj
liedor Walker's
the effe apar
at Moquelumanned-hill,betweenpudley.s.ll.TLhaetyoregheo,sceotuhnet3,u•ncilleruke
of Calaveras,
manner of squirting water at each other, to cool their
wounded honour. One combatant supplied himself with
the hose of the Union Water Company, the other with
that of the Massachusetts Company. Marking the
distance, which was about 20 feet, they commenced
playing upon each other. The combatants withstood
the cool application manfully for about 10 minutes, when
Mr. Dudley, thinking discretion the better part of valour,
retired from the oontest.—Nets York if raid.