The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-23 00:00:00

LYME REGIS.

DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF TORY BO
ROUGHMONGERS.

Four of the defeated friends and chief supporters of
Mr. Attwood, in the late election petition, brought by
Mr. Attwood against the return of Mr. Abdy, the sitting
member for this borough, having succeeded, by means
of various " gentle influences," in getting returned at the
late election for town councillors, and that party having
thereby acquired a majority in the town council, resolved
on turning out all the present corporate officers who had
taken part against Mr. Attwood in that election, com-
mencing with the town clerk, H. F. Waring, Esq., who,
as agent for the sitting M.P., was particularly obnoxious
to them. Having met, accordingly on the 9th instant
(the usual quarterly meeting), the business of the day
was opened by Mr. Marder, sen., druggist, proposing,
without any prefatory remarks, that G. Roberts, Esq.,
fill the vacant office of Mayor for the ensuing year, which
was carried without a division. The official declarations
were then made by his Worship, after which it was pro-
posed by Mr. Holmes, " that the officers who were ap-
pointed at Michaelmas should be confirmed up to next
Michaelmas Court Leet." Seconded by Mr. Larder, and
carried without a division.
The council then retired to the council chamber for
consultation; on their re-appearing the Mayor com-
menced reading From a paper a statement commencing
with a resolution that all the present corporate officers
be dismissed in a body, and the names of those who
were to serve as officers for the current year, beginning
with the town clerkship, and naming Mr. George
Hingeston as the newly elected town clerk.
Mr. F. WARING—Stop ! The town clerkship is not
now vacant. Are these minutes public that you are
reading, sir? If so, I shall be glad to have them.
Mr. MARDER (one of the newly-elected batch of
councillors)—Allow me to say that Mr. Waring is not
now town-clerk, and, therefore, has no right to have
them.
Mr. WARING—I am so still; and I ask, how is it pos-
sible that you can fill a position which is already oc-
cupied?
The Mayor, after this short colloquy, resumed reading
the minutes, after which
Mr.WARING again addressed his Worship, by expres-
sing a wish to have the names of those persons who voted
for his retaining office, and those who voted against him,
as it would be gratifying to see them.—(A laugh.)
• Mr. R. WALKER replied by ludicrously stating the
manner in which the proposed new town-clerk was
elected. He said, why we held up our hands for Mr.
Hingeston, that's the way to do it youknow.—(Laughter.)
Mr. S. OSBORNE—Perhaps we had better explain to
Mr. Waring the circumstances under which the minutes
were framed.
Mr. HOLMES—I suppose Mr. Waring does not require
them.
Mr. WARING—After the whole of the minutes are
read, I intend making a few observations.
The Mayor, after this second interruption in the
course of his reading, recommenced stating the officers
who were to be retained, the chief constable, W. B.
Wright, and the inspector of weights and measures,
Edwards, who retained his office by an amendment being
put and carried, after a proposition had been made to
turn him out.
Mr. WARING—You will give me the minutes ?
Mr. H. MARDER—No you have no right to them.
The TowN CLERK (Mr. Waring) then proceeded to
make a few observations on the election of the town-
clerk, stating that the appointment was not an annual
one, and that no notification of a change in that office
having been made, the appointment did not come within
the scope of the day's business, that he should therefore
retain office until he was legally dismissed, which it was
not in the power of the council on that day to do.
Mr. H. MARDER proposed Mr. Hingeston should be
sent for, he being the town clerk; seconded by Mr.
Walker, and carried. A messenger was accordingly
sent to fetch Mr. Hingeston.
A warm altercation took place in the interval, during
which Mr. WARING, who appeared to enjoy the scene,
repeated his assurances that the Council were wrong,
and his intention of retaining his seat until properly dis-
possessed.
The room at this time presented a scene of unusual
disorder—calls to order from the chair being entirely
ineffectual. The circumstance which appeared pecu-
liarly annoying to his (Mr. Waring's) opponents
was his unruffled calmness, and he continued taking
notes of the proceeding throughout the " confusion
worse confounded."
Mr. George Hingeston at this juncture appeared in
the Guildhall.
The MAYOR—Mr. Hingeston, I beg to inform you
that you are chosen town-clerk for the ensuing year,
and I also beg to state (but I am :not able to go into the
subject fully) that Mr. Waring considers your appoint-
ment to day illegal, owing to some informality existing,
which I hope will be more fully explained. Mr. Waring
states that this is not the day on which a new election
for this office should have taken place, and that he is
consequently still town-clerk.
Mr. WARING--It is not the day, nor a part of the day's
business, nor do I intend resigning office until a proper
appointment is made.
Mr. G. Hingeston was then appealed to by Mr. HooKE,
agent for Messrs. R. and H. Williams's Dorchester
Bank, as to the best course to be adopted (as we under-
stood) to eject him (Mr. Waring) from his position as
town clerk.
Mr. HINGESTON—I suppose you do not, of course,
wish me to state the law to you at a minute's notice?
Mr. HOOKE—Then I will read the clause in the Mu-
nicipal Act relating to the election of the town-clerk
Having read this clause, Mr. llooke inoved—" That the
council retire to the adjoining room to consult furtheron
the course the had best pursue," adding that he thought
Mr. Waring was not acting courteously in not resigning
his office without dispute, and that the part he was now
taking was one which would give offence to those who
were disposed, notwithstanding political differences, to
act as his friends.
Mr. Wenn-Pa—l quite understan I the part you have
taken, sir.—(Murmurs of applause.)
Mr. IfooKE—l did not vote for your rejection, nor your
re-election.

Mr. H. MARDRR (much excited)—l want to know
wheth-wheth-er-er-er Mr. Waring will, in spite of the
council, still persist. I-I wa-wa .want to know wheth-er-
er it is cor-rect or not?—(Derisive cheers.)
On the motion of Mr. Hooxe, the Council then re-
tired, accompanied by Mr. G. Hingeston, acting in the
capacity of legal adviser. On their re-appearing,
The MAYOR (to Mr. Waring)—We have consulted
with Mr. Hingeston in this case, and have empowered
him to have communication with you.
Mr. G. HINGENTON—My opinion is very simple; you
have appointed me town-clerk at one of your quarterly
meetings, I cannot, therefore, think what possible ob-
jection there can be to my having the papers—of course,
I demand them, and shall pursue these means by which
Ic in obtain possession of them. [This speech appeared
to amuse Mr. Waring, who declined giving up the mi-
nute book or any of the corporate documents in his pos-
session, stating that the Act required them to remain in
the care of the town clerk.]
A scene of indescribable confusion ensued, during
which repea•ed demands were made by Mr. Hingeston
and his friends for the books (which lay on the table
before Mr. Waring), and equally repeated polite refusals
by that gentleman. Of this conversation the following
is a sufficient specimen:—
Mr. HINGESTON—WiII you let me have the books?
Mr. WARlNG—Certainly nor.
Mr. HThGESTON—I demand them as town clerk.
Mr. WARING—You shall not have them.
Mr. HINGESTON—I do not know what right you have
to retain them.
Mr. WARING—Live awl learn.
One of the Ar:WOODITES—I insist on the books being
handed to Mr. Hingeston as our town-clerk.
Mr. WARlNG—Possession 's nine points of the law.
Mr. Waring's cool firmness and quiet replies to his
excited and really furious opponents elicited bursts of
applause from the crowd of burgesses who occupied the
body of the hall, and who appeared highly to disapprove
of the factious and violent procetdings of the tort'
councillors.

Mr. HooRE--I should, if I were placed, in my for-
mer position of Mayor) direct Wright, the sergeant, to
take the books from you, and I should have done it fear-
lessly, I should not have cared for any one.
Mr. WARlNG—lentertain sufficient regard for the d'g•
nity and respectability of the bench to hope that you
would not have adopted a course so illegal and im-
proper._

• Mr. HooKE—We order you to place them in the
council chamber.

Mr. WARING—Do you order me as your town-clerk
to do so?
several Voices—Not you are not the town-clerk.
Mr. WARING (with a smile)—You see your friends
won't let me act even for this purpose.
Mr. Hootts—You have no right to the books.
Mr. WA.aisc —That's to be decided elsewhere, and
I am determined not to place them where they cannot
be considered in my care and custody.
Mr. HOOKE—I would, if I had been mayor, have
demanded that they should have been sent to me in
my
Mr. WARlNG—They're in my possession.
Mr. HooKE—I tell you what, sir, those books do not
belong to you. I consider you have been eitCadittgly
insulting to me; I have noticed it before, but not ever
passed a remark on itA
Mr. Willi:fa—These books have never been out of
my custody, nor do I mean them to be.
Mr. 11. MARDER—YOU seem to make up your mind
Mr. Waring, to be exceedingly saucy.—(A stamping of
feet in the lobby, which was suppressed.)
Mr. WARING—I snap my fingers at you.
Mr. Hooke, who was standing behind Mr. Waring,
here made a snatch at one of the minute books, and
caught it up from the table on which it was lying before
the town clerk (Mr. Waring), occasioning a burst of dis-
approbation throughout the hall.
Mr. WARING, who appeared much astonished at this
mtc‘iueiksiaeohstutet
hodr
ae,
at, c ;to ol
ol sr.
ee ; from his seat very deliberately, and draw-
ing a corner of his handkerchief from his pocket, pointed
h
it out to Mr. Hooke, observing—Perhaps you'd like to
lveird.oinioe.oKE aNmvl
luyac:hi clamournygo usaid,ha have
eeandnsdourcerdsi and;gihn
toi\w hrd.eoniwiaoht
oal
ket neg 7
hayout
what I want J: know isthis—whether
i sha not t
ake it
Iho me wa
vi
ea t h me.h
t to
right take it when I please?
Mr•
WARlNGCertainly—
clerk.
unless you take them by force.
not, it belongs to me as town-
coumnc.ilWhAasßiaNGr—igNht°nt tnakeeithtehremshaolui tyoouf
Mr.r llooKE—Then I have no right to the books.
hmayv ec I
oNo member of the
them,
d
e:
while I am the town-clerk.
__(Cries —(Cries of " That's the
Mr. llooKE—We gave you to understand some time
ago you would be no longer town-clerk.
Mr. WARING—UntiI yesterday I never heard from
you that it was your intention to displace
me. Did
you
tell me before then you.vrere going to dismiss we with