The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-27 00:00:00

DISTURBANCE AT ALL SAINTS',
LA.MBETII.

At Southwark Po court, on Monday, Samuel
Rouse, 29, clerk of Spencer-road, Stoke Newington,
was charged with creating a disturbance inside All
Saints' Church, Lower-marsh, Lambeth, and com-
mitting damage to a font to the extent of £7, the pro-
perty of the Rev. Dr. Lee, the incumbent.

Mr. Warner Sleigh appeared to prosecute ; and
r. Collette attended for the defendant.

Mr. Sleigh, in opening the proceedings, said that
he was instructed to prosecute the defendant for
being concernA, with others, in committing a dis-
graceful tumult inside All Saints' Church, Lam-
beth, during Divine service, casting ridicule upon
the ornamentation of the interior of the building,
and wilfully breaking thefont. During the celebra-
tion of the Holy Communion at noon on Sunday,
some person who received the bread, instead of
eating it, placed it in his pocket.

Mr. Collette her, intimated to the learned coun-
sel that it was not bread, but a wafer.

Mr. Sleigh understood that to be so, but as soon
as the person placed it in his pocket a disturbance
took place. That, however, was soon quelled at
the altar, but soon afterwards a number of per-
sons rushed to the other end of the church, and
defendant was seen to push the font over and
break it, committing damage to the extent of £7.
He was instructed to say that when the defendant
got outside the church he admitted smashing the
font and gloried in haying done so. He was there-
fore given in charge. The learned gentleman then
called—

Lionel Haynes, a young man, who said he was a
City clerk, and resided at No. 131, Upper Ken-
nington-lane. He said he was a chorister at All
Saints' Church, Lower-marsh, Lambeth, and on
Sunday last was there in the performance of his
duties. A little after one o'clock, as witness was
about to enter the vestry, he heard a disturbance
near the other end of the church. He immediately
took off his surplice and chasuble and put on his
gown, and on proceeding towards the font he saw
the defendant cutting at some flowers which deco-
rated a cross, and laughing at it.
Mr. Burcham asked if he knocked any of the
flowers off or damaged the cross?—Witness could
not say whether he did, but there were some of the
flowers lying about. Ile went up and spoke to the
prisoner, when another man rushed at him and
threatened to do him an injury. Witness, however,
kept him at arm's length, and then he saw defendant
take hold of the font and it fell over with a crash.

Mr. Burcham asked if there was any one pushing
the prisoner behind at the time ?—Witness replied
that there was a crowd about him, but he distinctly
saw the prisoner seize the font and push it over.
Witness adde], that owing to the unseemly conduct
of a gang of people they were compelled to shorte❑
the service.

Mr. liurcham asked if the disturbances went on
during the services ?—Witness replied in the affir-
mative. Near the chancel end people were jeering
at the cross and the finwers surroundi►:g it.
As soon as the defendant pushed the font over
he hurried out of the church. Witness went
and told Dr. Leo, and from what he said he pro-
ceeded in search of a constable. Outside the church
he saw the defendant in a crowd, when he heard him
say, " I have pushed the things over with a smash."
He then called a constable and gave him into
custody.

In cross-examination by Mr. Collette, witness
said that when he heard the disturbance at the font
he thought he should have been able to quiet the
people, but they would not keep quiet. At that
time he was attacked. The defendant had a stick
in one of his hands, which he used pretty freely.
There was a crowd of persons surrounding him,
making a jeering noise. The gas was lighted at
the time owing to the fog, but he was sure that the
defendant was the man who pushed the font over.
Witness never asked a constable to take another
wan into custody fur that offence.

Frank Wynne, a merchant's clerk, residing at the
Broadway, Westminster, said he was present in All
Saints' Church, Lambeth, on Sunday morning, and
heard a disturbance outside the altar. He under-
stood the prisoner had taken the consecrated wafer,
and instead of placing it in his mouth put it in his
pocket. After that he saw defendant, followed by
about twenty others, rush towards the font. Some
one among them called out, "Protestants, do your
duty." As soon as they got to the font the defen-
dant pushed it over. Last witness then came up,
and he and the defendant had a struggle together,
and then the latter left the church. He did not see
him given into custody.
In cross-examinatfon, witness said he saw no
struggle until after the font was broken, and then
Mr. Haynes and witness seized hold of the defen-
dant, but his friends got him away, and he left the
church. The defendant was the ringleader of the
lot.

Mr. Burcham here remarked that there was a
great discrepancy between the evidence of the two
witnesses. Had he any other disinterested witness ?
Mr. Sleigh said there was a female in court who
saw something of it. He called her to see if she
could identify the defendant as the party who broke
the font. On looking at him, she said that she could
not identify him.

Mr. Sleigh, in answer to Mr. Burcham, said he
was not in a position to carry the case any further,
therefore he must withdraw the charges.
The defendant was then discharged.