The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-10
4 MOST ExTRAoRDINARY BIGoT


"Mr w. Rsyner Wood is well enough
known in Manchester, aud if his name
carries no GissiuctiOn with it beyond the
bounds OF the borough, it is certainly not
his fault" 1t is thus that the Manchester
Examiner and Times of last Monday writes
respecting a magistrate for the county of
Lancaster. This gentleman who appears
to be 80 ambitious of fame has just now
made bold stroke for it. He resides at
Singleton Lodge, Singleton Brook, near
Manchester. 1t appears that the Little
Sisters of the Poor, whose zeal and labor
in Manchester for the support and sustain
ment of huhdrgds of the aged poor have
obtained for them 30 much respect and ad-
mira'ion from the kindly disposed of all
classes and creeds, have opened a new
house of tetnSe for the poor, near Cheetham
hill, at some not very great distance from
Singleton Lodge. Whilst engaged on Fri j.
day week on their usual errand of charity,
soliciting aims for the support of the poor
the care of whom they have undertaken,
asking for the crumbs that fall from the
rich mans table, that they might feed the
family of Lazarue near his gate, they
chanced to call at the house of Mr.. William
RayneT Wood, and asked for some charity
for their poor. Here was fine opportunity
for Mr.. Wood. He had on other occasions
since the commission of the peace had been
intrusted to him, shown his cal for the OBJ
servance of law by others without display
ing an equal knowledge of what the law is.
He had now an opportunity of putting into
practice his peculiar legal theories, and OF
gratifying at the same time his anti Cath :
olic feeliDgs; 30, probably remembering 6
the precedent of Dogberry and his pompoue
charge in the prince's name-he laid his
hand upon the shoulders of the two ladies'
and, sin the Queen's name, ;" declared them
arrested under the Vagrant Act.
police officer was sent for, and the
L. L.
an unused damp room in his house, the
door of which had to be unlocked, and the
| shutters taken from the windows. They
| were detained there for three hours, whilst
Mr.. Wood secured the country on horse
back looking for police officer of higher
rank. 1t was accidentally said, at the ex-
animation, that they were detained in the
servants' hall" 1t was not 30. 1t was il
a room as described, in which the police
man shivered, and of the coldness of which
he complained, as he paced up and dowr
during the three hours in which he KEEP
watch and ward over them.
The sergeant of police being at length
found, Mr.. Wood released the ladies from
his own private prison, and had then
marched before the police-a good quarte
of an hours walk-to the public lock up
where they were detained during the night
| though any amount of bail was offered by
Catholic magistrates and other Catholics o
position. Rightly or wrongly the police
authorities refused to receive bail because
the charge WAS in the jurisdiction of tht
county, and had been made sgainst the ladie
by q county magistrate. This calls TO
further inquiry. 1t is but justice, however
to mention that the ladies say that the man
ner, bearing and language of the police to
wards them was most respectful, ant
evidenced the greatest regret that they
were obliged to act as they were ordered
The case created great excitement ant
was exteneively commented on by the lead
| ing journals of England aud Ireland. Th
record of tho trial is as follows
At the Manchester county police court
before Messrs. T. Dickins, Henry Lee, anC
j. f. Mart, Mary Fengate aud Mary Or
thines, m embers of a Roman Catholic order
| were brought up in custody charged will
committing an offence under the Yagrau