The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-04 00:00:00

THAM ES.

THE REIT. 3111. KING AND THE MAGISTRATE.—The
Rev. B. King. rector of St. George's•in-the-East, who
was complained of on Thursday by a man named Hag-
gerty for refusing to perform the funeral service over the
body of his sister-in-law, came before Mr. Yardley to
complain of Haggerty's statement, and make a counter
one. The reverend gentleman, who appeared to labour
under a little excitement of feeling, held a paper in his
hand, and began as follows :—" I complain of the con-
duct of Mr. Yardley, the sitting magistrate on last
Thursday, respecting an ex park application made by a
person named Haggerty, an account of which appeared
in the Times newspaper of yesterday. The statement of
Haggerty, that I refused to perform the funeral rites
over the _body of bis sister, Is nothing but a tissue of
falsehoods. First, the verdict of the coroner's jury was
not Found drowned,' as stated by Haggerty, and I
have received from the registrar of deaths the true ver-
dict, which was, That the deemed threw herself
into the waters of the London Dock, but in what
state of mind she was in at the time there
was not sufficient evidence before the jury.' Secondly,
It was asserted that the corpse was brought into
the churchyard, and that I refused to perform the fu•
neral rites. That is false, entirely false. As soon as I
received the verdict I sent the parish clerk to the par
ties to inform them that I could not, consistently with
my sacred calling and the Christian feelings I possess,
perform the burial rites. Lastly, it was asserted that I
received a certain fee for the performance of the service
for the burial of the dead, and that I had refused to re-
turn it. That is entirely false. I never received any
fees, and knew nothing about them until I saw the case
published in the Times.
Having finished reading his denial from the paper in
his hand, the rev. gentleman protested against the con-
duct of the magistrates in countenancing the applica-
tion of a person, and allowing him to make a statement
prejucial to another in his absence. The system was a
most nefarious one, and ought not to be permitted. He
then handed to Mr. Yardley the paper he had been
reading from.
The MAGISTRATE declined receiving it, and said, Mr.
King, do you know who you are addressing? The Rev.
Mr. King (sternly)—No, I do not.
The MAGISTRATE—I am Mr. Yardley, and the person
you complain of, and whatever my conduct has been I
shall not condescend to acquit myself before a private
individual. I think any person of common sense on
reading the report you complain of would come to a
very different conclusion to the one you have arrived at.
I neither countenanced nor discouraged the application,
but it was my duty
.to hear it, and I could not ascertain
whether I had any jurisdiction in the case until the man
had made his statement, when I told him I could not
interfere. I might have stopped you before, but I al-
lowed you to vindicate yourself from any aspersions
you might think injurious.
The Rev. Bryan King—l complain of the magistrate
countenancing the publication of Haggerty's statement.
Mr. Yardley—l deny it, Sir; it's false!
The Rev. Bryan King—l beg your pardon, if the
case is inaccurately reported.
Mr. Yardley—l saw nothing in the Times report
which was incorrect or unfair, and I shall not listen to
anything more you say.
The reverend gentleman attempted to address the ma-
gistrate, but finding no attention paid to him he hastily
withdrew.