The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-15 00:00:00

EXCITING SCENE AT DARTFORD.

The quiet town of Dartford was yesterday the scene of
great excitement, and the whole place bore the appearance
of festivities common to some general public rejoicing. At
the Bell Inn, kept by ono Heftdon, a cash box was hung
out of the window, at the end of a barber's pole, garnished
on either side by a leg of mutton. Windows were thrown
up and handkerchiefs waved and there appeared to bo a
public holiday. It turned out that all these proceedings arose
out of a case heard at the District Court boforo Mr.
Aspinasa (Noble v. Hendon). Plaintiff alleged that he was
the present treasurer of the Reform Benefit Society, and on
behalf of the members he now sought to recover £8 odd,
monies in the hands of defendant, the alleged late treasurer.
It appeared that on the 13th September last a meeting was
called at defendant's house (The Bell) to consider two
questions, ono respecting a monetary transaction in refer-
once to some music, and another concerning the holding of
an ensuing anniversary After these items were disposed
of it was proposed that tho society should be removed from
defendant's house, and this proposition was declared to
have been carried, plaintiff being elected treasurer.
In answer to Mr. Buchanan, of London, plaintiff admitted

that Mr. Hendon was the father of the society and had been
the promulgator of it. He also admitted that the meeting
had been specially called to consider the two items above-
mentioned.

Mr. Buchanan then contended, on behalf of defendant,

that the proceedings of plaintiff and his party were contrary
to the spirit of the law upon such matters. No notice had
been given to the general body of members that such a
motion would be brought forward, and it was important to
the public that the illegality of these private coups d'efat
should be shown by a legal decision.
Tho learned Judge was of opinion that Hendon was still
treasurer. (At this declaration defendant waved his arm
in the air, and Mr. Buchanan had enough to do to check
his exuberance of wdirits.) The proceedings of plaintiff and
his party had been illegal, and if theythen wished to remove
defendant from his post and the society from his house they
must do it in the regular way and not by a side wind. The
whole body of the members must have notice of the motion,
and it must be properly brought forward. Plaintiff must be
nonsuited and pay all the costs, including those of defen-

dant's attorney.
Defendant and his party then set up a cheer that male
the welkin ring; and Mr. Hendon, in a very extravagant
manner, successfully completed the destruction of a new
hat ho had purchased for the occasion.
Mr. Buchanan, who was attended by a procession, and
cheered by a large crowd all the way to the railway station,
declared that they "did these things much more quietly in
551 I London."

ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENT.—Tho Lord
Bishop of London has appointed the Rev. E. Spooner,
M.A., incumbent of Holy Trinity, Haverstock-hill, St.
Pancras, to the vicarago of Heston, in the county of
Middlesex, vacant by the death of the Rev. H. S. Trimmer,
B.A. The perpetual curacy of Holy Trinity, St. Pancras
(thus void by the cession), is in the gift of the Rev. Canon
Dale, as vicar of St. Pancras.