The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-09-20
Court Proceedings.


that practice had grown in some Of the
counties of the State, for parties agains,
whom complaints had been, or were about
to be IN tde, to approach the Grand Jul
rors, outside of the jury room, either d.
rectly or through friends, and to state
their side of tie matter, and to endeavor
tc enforce their ideas as to action which
should be taken by the Grand Jury that
the oath which the Jurors had taken
clearly set forth their duty, and copy of
the oath would be given the foreman by
the Clerk, for their guidance; that any
person who approached juror, either
grand or petit, TO talk about matter
which was on trial before him was liable
to indictment, and was also guilty of con-
tempt of court, and il any such case were
reported to him, he would deal with them
severely.
The following are the licenses which
were granted, with the fee attached:
Arthur Allen, High Bridge -$l50.
William J. Tiff, Junction-$l25.
John Smith, Junetion-$l25.
John Hetferman, High Bridge-$l50.
L. p. Wooden, White House Station
$175
]. S. Hockenbury, Stockton-$200.
w. T. Slires and VIM. Fleming each
made application for wholesale license.
The applications were granted, with a
license fee of 800 each The application
Of William Wooden to keep hotel at
Califon was laid over for hearing.
The list of causes was then taken up:
William w. Hawke v. Joseph E. Sage
beer.-This was an an action for SANDER.
The plaintiff is dentist residing at Flem-
iugton, and the defendant is the Pastor of
the Pennington Baptist Church. 1t was
claimed that in sermon preached by the
defendant in the Fall of 1892 he made this
statements "The most dreadful story l
ever hear has lately come TO my ears. l
have it from unquestionable authority
that while preparatory service for DR..
Munhall's meetings were being conducted,
the week proceeding his coming TO hold
religious services in the Methodist Church
in this place, in little room close by the
church tour young men held mock pra-
yer meeting. These young men move in
the so called best society OF this town,
and these are the young men who are adj
mittcd TO your homes, and with whom
your sons and daughters are walking
these streets every day. want to warn
you against allowing your sons and
daughters TO associate with these blasphe
mcrs. If were public speaker upon u
public platform would give the names
of these young men. l would rather go
before the judgment seat of God with
my arms filled with tin and wooden idols
than to go with my lips purpled with
such blasphemy." 1t was also claimed
that some two weeks before the preaching
of the sermon, the defendant had stated
to young girl of his congregation that
the plaintiff and other young men had
held mock prayer meeting in Vossclers
music store while preparatory services
for Dr.. Munhall's meeting were in pro-
gress, and warned her against these young
men. II was further claimed that the de-
PENDANT afterwards told, at different times,
TO Rev. DIR. Geo. s. Mott and George M.
Thornton, the names of the persons
whom he had in mind when he preached
the sermon, aud to whom he referred,
aud among them named the plaintiff. 1t
was admitted by the defendant that in his
sermon he had made a statement similar
to that charged, with the exception that
he had not stated the time of the holding
of the mock prayer meeting. 1t was also
admitted that the defendant had given DIR.
Mott the names of the persons implicated,
among whom was the plaintiff, and also
TO George M. Thornton, but it was claim
ed that the communications to these gen
tlemen were privileged, because the one
was made TO DR.. Mott upou his request,
and for the purpose OF investigation with
a view to church discipline, and the other
to Mr.. Thornton at his request, upon the
statement that he desired TO know because,
II the charges proved 10 be true he would
make complaint to the session OF the
Church. The defendant also claimed that
In his statement to the young girl he had
not stated where the mock prayer meeting
was held, and did not say IL was while
preparatory services were being held in
the Methodist Church. 1t was claimed
that this last communication was also
privileged. In support of some OF his
statements 1t was proved on the part of
the defendant that on an evening in the
latter part OF July, 1892, five or six young
men were assembled in the music room at
Vosseller's store and three engaged in the
singing of songs and hymns that between
the songs a bottle of whiskey was passed
hTOuuu Vi WHICH 6OIue VI tucn uIduh,
and that they acted in hilarious and bois-
ferrous manner; that during the evening
the plaintiff joined the party aud there
after took part 10 the drinking and sing
ing. Two witnesses testified that after
taking drink around, the plaintiff aud
the other young men sang "Jesus Lover
OF My SOUL" took another drink and sang
"Nearer My God to Thee" and again
drank and sang "Praise God From Whom
all Blessings Flow" and then put out the
gas and went away. The other Witness
es, among whom were some of the
young men, did not recollect what was
sung, and could not state whether or not
the two hymns mentioned were sung. 1t
was claimed by the plaintiff and testified
to by several witnesses, that when the
Doxology was started the plaintiff had