The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-16 00:00:00

" blackguard." I resented this foul term by giving
the blow he now complains of.
Mr. Ham-mill—You do not deny the assault ?
Defendant—l cannot, sir ; but it was given
under provocation that justified it.
Mr. Hammill—What are you ?
Defendant—A solicitor, at Guildhall Chambers.
Henry Norris—l am a builder at Hertford. Was
in the carriage when complaintant entered, and I
told him there was not room.
Mr. Hammill—And was it so ?
Witness—Well, certainly there were but three
on one side—defendant one of them, but he is not
a " little one," and the other gentleman was very
stout, so that with the boy they filled up the space.
This witness confirmed the defence set up, and
in reply to the magistrate's question respecting
the violence of the blow, said, " He hit him as hard
as there was room to do it in."
Mr. Hammill observed, "It is a pity that one
gentleman was not more polite, and the other more
forbearing. Unquestionably there was a fault on
both sides. To stigmatise a man as a blackguard
is provocative of a breach of the peace. Under all
the circumstances, perhaps the matter may be
satisfactorily concluded by allowing the defendant
to put a donation into the poor-box, it being under-
stood that he apologises."
Mr. Armstrong--Most certainly, sir, for I re-
gretted the blow the instant it was delivered.
Defendant laid down a sovereign, and each left
satisfied.

SOUTTIWARK.—Mcssrs. Spinks and Mouril-
yan, the owners of Bethesda chapel, recently pulled
down, in Jamaica-level, Bermondsey, owing to its
dangerous state, were summoned before Mr. Combe,
by. order of Capt. Labalmondiere, assistant commis-
sioner of police, uuder the New Metropolitan Build-
ing Act, for refusing to pay to the Commissioners
of. police ,the sum of £36 4s. 9d., being costs in-
curred by them in surveyors' fees, &c., and pulling
down the above chapel, such being a dangerous
structure, being within the meaning of the act
passed in the year 1855.
Mr. Spinks, the solicitor to the trustees of
Bethesda chapel, appeared for the defendants ; and.
Mr. Reeves, the chief surveyor to the Commis-
sioners of Police, was in attendance to support the
complaint.
It appeared that as long back as twelve months
ago Bethesda chapel was is a dilapidated condi-
tion, and complaints were made to the vestry of
Bermondsey relative to the coffins being exposed,
and offensive smells emitted therefrom. Dr. Chal-
lice, the medical officer of health, certified to these
facts, and summonses were heard at this court, and
others made to abate the nuisance. Not only that
an order was issued by the Secretary of State to
cover in the coffins and the vaults hermetically,
nothing was, however, done, owing to some dis-
pute about • the real owner, but the structure
becoming in such a dangerous state the Commis-
sioners of Police, through their inspector, Mr.
Dodd, summoned the defendants as the owners, to
erect hoardings and pull down such a dangerous
structure. Having neglected to do so the Commis-
sioners of Police performed the work, and they
demanded £2 2s. surveyors' fees, and £34 2s. 2d.
the expenses incurred in building the hoarding and
performing the necessary works. The defendants
were ordered to pay these sums, and on their re-
fusing to do so the present proeeedings,were taken.
Mr. Spinks contended that his clients were not
at all liable to the payment of the• demand, inas-
much as they were only the reversionists and
granted the lease of the chapel.'
Mr. Combe—Then you are the landlords and
entitled to receive all rents.

Mr. Spinks—Yes, of course, we do, when there
are any to receive. I, however, contend that we
cannot be considered the owners under the miscel-
laneous provision of the act of Parliament. Part 4
and 97th clause, there it says that all such expenses
must be borne by the owner in possession. I say
we are not the owners in immediate possession, and
cannot be compelled to pay the demand now asked.
Mr. Reeves—The 73d clause specifies who are
the owners. You will see, sir, by that the de-
fendants as trustees are liable.

Mr. Combe—That clause certainly specified the
parties who were liable. lam therefore of opinion
that the defendants must pay the money.
Mr. Spinks—lf such is your decision, sir, I am
instructed to say that we shall appeal to a higher
tribunal. We also object to the items Let forth in
the accounts produced by the Commissioners of
Police.

Mr. CombG---I shall make the order for the pay-
ment of £l6 4s. 9d., the sum demanded, and if you
intend to appeal you must give the required notices.
I think it a case of vast importance to the public,
which ought to be decided as soon as possible.
The usual notices were given and the order made
out

The coffins it appeared were still left exposed,
much to the annoyance of the inhabitants, who are
loud in their calls on the parish authorities for
their interference again to cover the ground.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.-
THE HALF-YEARLY MEETING.

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of
the Crystal Palace was held yesterday at the
Bridge House Hotel, London-bridge, T. N. Far-
quhar, the chairman of the company, presiding.
The report, an abstract of which has already ap-
peared, was agreed to be taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by stat-
ing that it was resolved to hold the meetings annu-
ally in future, as that would enable the shareholders
much better to ascertain the exact value of their
property. He entered into some details of the ex-
penditure arising from- increased water supply
rendered necessary in consequence of the enlarge-
ment of the refreshment department, the re-arrange-
ment of the picture gallery, and other matters of
-an attractive character. The Chairman then went
over the various items of the report seriatim, con-
gratulating the meeting on the improved prospects
before them. The working expenditure was
£56,000 in 1856.7, it had now been reduced to
£50,000, and they hoped they would very soon re-
duce it to £45,000. (Cheers.) As to the Sunday
opening, he could not see why people who held
shares in the company and objected to walking in
the grounds on Sunday should seek to prevent their
neighbours doing so. (" Let them leave us.") In
adverting to the :proposed Exhibition of 1861, he
thought that as they, the shareholders, had ex-
pended £1,500,000 in erecting that great build-
ing, they ought to have a voice in the matter.
(Hear.) He had been in communication with the
Society of Arts. He and his fellow directors had
made a proposition to the Society of Arts to enter
into arrangements for holding the Exhibition of
1861 in the Crystal Palace.
On the motion for the adoption of the report
being put,
Mr. SOUTHEY proposed that the directors should
be remunerated in a manner consistent with their
responsibility.
Mr. BILLING objected, and doubted both the
propriety and capability of such a proceeding.
Mr. PUNCHER was also of opinion that until the
dividends increase it would not be fair and prudent
to increase the allow ance to the board. He proceeded,
amid muck laughter and interruption, to comment
upon what he designated the " very silly speech of
the chairman ;" and which he felt strongly tempted
to pronounce "a mockery, a delusion, and a snare."
He further advocated the continuance of the half-
yearly meeting as a safeguard for the shareholders
in meeting the directors every six months.
Mr. SLACK objected to what he denominated
the " musical specialty" department, and in some
lengthy observations contended that the expensive
concerts did not pay.
Mr. WILSON expressed an opinion that the affair:4
of the Crystal Palace had never been so well con-
ducted as during the last half year.
The CHAIRMAN having satisfactorily replied to
several objections about keeping up a police and
fire brigade, as well as the fire insurance on the
building, and other items of managerial expendi-
ture, put the adoption of the report, which was
agreed to unanimously.
The next motion was the rendering of the
accounts half-yearly, when the meeting negatived
it, and decided in favour of yearly balance sheets.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed that the half-
yearly dividend be declared at 2s. 6d. a share.
Mr. PUNCHER moved an amendment of 3s. 6d. a
share, free of income tar.
At this announcement the meeting seemed sud-
denly to awaken and assume the character of
Crystal Palace meetings in days gone by. Mr.
Puncher thought that a: the directors had a reserve
of £1,200 it could be very well afforded.
After considerable banter, and much good
humour, the 3s. 6d. amendment was put, and being
only supported by a few hands, was uproariously
laughed out of court, and the Chairman's propost-
tion was adopted.
-Mr. KERRY, on behalf of the religious section of
the shareholders, began the real battle of the day,
by moving the following resolution, of which he
had given notice :—" That the resolution—' That
in the opinion of this meeting the opening of the
Palace and grounds to shareholders on Sunday
afternoons is desirable, and that it be referred to
the board of directors to make such arrangement-
as they may consider best fox giving effect to, t
resolution,' be rescinded." The mover pm oceedea
amidst a perfect storm to -advocate his motion, but