The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1843-10-10 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DISTURBING A CONGREGATION. A respectably dressed man, named Thomas Smith. a book-binder, was yesterday brought before Mr. Rushton on a charge of indecently disturbing the congregation of Christ Church, on Sunday evening last. Mr. Dalton, the sexton, said that while the Rev. Mr. Ould was preaching, the defendant came in with others, and after stopping a short time in one of the aisles, gave a loud whistle and said to the others " Come away ! what is the use of hearing such stuff as this!" Several of the congregation were, he said, much annoyed by the interruption. Several other witnesses spoke to the same effect as respecting the whistle. The defendant's wife, who was in court, said that he was quite incapable of using the words stated, but as she was not present her testimony was not received as evidence. The defendant said that he went into the church, and on hearing Mr. Ould make some peculiar observations on the statistics of education, which excited his feelings, he did make a sort of whew or whistle, (which he imitated,) and walked out, but made use of no observation whatever. Mr. Rushton said that if he did not like the opinic,ns of the clergyman, he ought not to go. Such conduct disturbed the devotion of others, and tended to scandalize the administration of religion. He must, therefore, find bail, himself in £2O, and two sureties in £lO each, to answer any proceedings that might be instituted against -him. He added, that the defendant must also conduct himself in future with decorum. (It appears that the offence is cognizable by the Ecclesiastical Court.)  REMNANTS OF " MISS CRELLIN'S" CASE REVlVED.—Yesterday, at the Police-court, Mr. Clayton, husband of one of the principal defendants in the case of Miss Crellin's abduction, (which was tried at the Spring Assizes last year,) appeared before Mr. Rushton, to answer a summons for an assault and maltreatment of a respectable-looking man, a shopkeeper. The complainant said that his shop was quite distinct from the house over it, and was let off. On Saturday night he heard a cry of " murder!" and that a man was above:with a drawn knife threatening to cut a child. On going out he fonnd a crowd of women and others at the entrance to the house, and was besought to go up. He at first declined, thinking it was the proper business of a police-officer, but on their urgent entreaties, and fearful of some serious mischief, he at length went up, when he saw the prisoner (who was tipsy) with a knife in his hand, and a bundle of books and other articles in his arms, which he said were his. Several females were about in great alarm. The defendant called him Mr. Jones, in whicL, he was mistaken. as that was not his name, and he appTired not to know that he kept the shop below. He also behaved very roughly to complainant. The latter remonstrated with him on the impropriety of such conduct, telling him who he was, and he then put the books down, and said he would get them in another way. Mr. Devonport (who appeared for the defendant) said that what his client was taking was strictly his own. He reminded the magistrate of the trial in Miss Crellin's case, and said that Jones, one of the defendants, had got away some of the articles, ali of which were Mr. Claytons, or placed under his charge, and he only went to get them back. The defendant said the goods were his own in every sense, and showed one of the books—a Bible, in which his children's births were recorded. Some portraits, in oil, which had also been shown, were also his own. Mrs. Clayton herself appeared in eourt, and stated that the defendant had behaved most violently. She produced a portrait (or rather the remains of one) which he had cut and severed almost to pieces so that it could not be recognised as a picture. She called two female witnesses, one of whom, a servant out of place, who lived with her, said, that he cut up Mrs. Clayton's portrait (as seen, and said he would do the same to the original if she came near him.) The defendant said he maintained all the children himself, and took care of them. One of them, a fine boy, appeared in court. Mr. Rushton said if he had any legal claims he must prefer them in a legal manner. He had conducted himself in an unjustifiable manner to the complainant, and must pay ss. for being drunk. He must also cease to annoy the parties, otherwise he would be punished.