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declaration, he said.
His Lordship: Is there no minute of his
appointment?
Mr. Lawrence: No.
Frank Fletcher, postmaster of Ash, and son-in-law
of the plaintiff, described what took place at the Easter vestry
meetings last year. In May, Mr. Petherbridge having nominated
Messrs. Wild and Holmes, the Rector said Mr. Lambarde had
written asking that Mr. Green might be his successor. Witness
practically endorsed plaintiff’s statement as to what occurred
further, adding that after the Rector had objected to one of the
votes recorded for Mr. Wild, Mr. Petherbridge said; "Well
you are Chairman, if you like to say black’s white you
can."
Mr. Clayton: Mr. Petherbridge was rather rude to
the parson? – His language was quite strong enough (laughter).
You thought it hardly respectful to the cloth?
Quite so (laughter).
Cross-examined: The Rector admitted both names to
the meeting, and did not request votes for and then against Mr.
Holmes. It was not after Mr. Holmes had been declared elected
that Mr. Wilds’ name was put. Privately Mr. Wild had expressed
himself as "sick" of the way the accounts were kept.
Witness had since the meeting ascertained that it was his
(witness’s) vote that the Rector considered bad, but he had
paid his rates and could produce the receipts.
The Court then adjourned till Thursday.
THURSDAY
The first witness on Thursday was Robert Petherbridge, of
Terry’s Lodge, Ash. He said that until a year ago he had read
the lessons in church. |
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His Lordship: Is any
qualification wanted for that? (laughter).
Witness, without replying, went on to say that
there was trouble at the 1910 vestry meeting between Mr. Wild
and the Rector, it being alleged that the Rector had been
spending money without the warden’s consent. Mr. Wild
accordingly told Mr. Hennell that he had better keep the
accounts and find the money himself. Coming to the adjourned
vestry meeting of last year , witness said the Rector read a
letter from Mr. Lambarde intimating that he could not stand
again as warden on account of feeble health. Witness then, in
accordance with the Canon, proposed Messrs. Wild and Holmes as
churchwardens. The Rector however, nominated Mr. Green as his
warden. Witness objected, as Mr. Green was not a resident
householder. The Rector overruled him, and submitted the name of
Mr. Holmes as parish warden. Mr. Holmes received three votes,
and the Rector then asked for votes against him. Witness replied
that he should not vote against Mr. Holmes, but for the one he
preferred. The name of Mr. Wild was then put to the meeting, and
he also received three votes. Witness then informed the Rector
that the vote of Mr. Meadway for Mr. Holmes was bad. Mr. Meadway
then produced a letter from his father-in-law, authorising him
to act on his behalf. The witness remarked that if that were to
be allowed, the whole business might be conducted by means of
letters. The Rector overruled the objection, and gave his
casting vote for Mr. Holmes, whom he declared elected. At the
Easter vestry this year the minutes of the 1911 meeting were
regarded as so meagre and misleading that their confirmation was
postponed until an |