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“ THE BARON” BE CAM IN IN A POLICECOURT.-o-Oil Friday, at the Wolverhampton Police-court, ilr. Edward Fenton, of Walsall, was summoned by Andre Massena, “ the Baron ” de Gamin, for an assault.The facta, as stated by the complainant, were that he was a traveller from Birmingham, on the *Stour Valley line, to Wolverhampton, on Thursday, by the train that leaves the former place at 10.45 a.m. At Dudley Port, the defendant, having looked into several carriages, got into the one in which he was seated, and after a few moments, asked him if he was not the Baron de Gamin'' On his replying that he was, the defendant said,If I dare, 1 would cut yon through,” at the same time laying his canc upon his shoulder, but without any force, on which the complainant said that was an assault, and he would proceed against him for it.In cross-examination by Mr. Ebsworfch, he said his name was Andre Massena, and that he was Baron de Oamin, bub declined to say what authority he had for using the latter title. He said that he asked Mr. Fenton if he was a Pro: , testant, who replied tiiat he was not of any particular religion, but that his wife was a Catholic. The Baron denied that defendants wife in that case was the wife of the priest, but said he only said the priest was spiritually over her, he did not speak in any other sense. He denied having made use of a very offensive statement as to what she must confess to the priest, and said he only remarked that she must answer any questions which the priest pub to her. He said this conversation took place after the assault.On being pressed as to his precise words he declined answering any more questions, when 51 r. Ebsworth sat down.In the course of examination, do Gamin having used an expression likely to be offensive to Roman Catholics, Mr. Kettle threatened if he repeated it, to commit him for contempt, repeating the warning on the complainant making use of the word Papist. The magistrates having consulted together,Mr. Leigh said they were unanimously of opinion that under that clause the complaint should be dismissed. Then addressing the complainant, he said— Baron de Gamin, 1 address you by the title by which you hold yourself out to the public, without reference to the question whether you hold that title properly or by mere assumption of your own. You have issued a handbill in which you state your desire that the Protestants of Wolverhampton should not be intimidated by a Popish rabble from giving to all persons the right to the free expression of their oninion, and that the mayor and the magistrates of the borough have expressed their concurrence in these sentiments. Don’t deceive yourself or be under any false impression as to the opinion which the mayor and magistrates entertain of your proceedings. I have consulted the mayor and all the other magistrates on the bench, and the observations I am about to make to you are made with their concurrence and at their request. We all hold dear the rights of freedom of discussion, but if you think the mayor and magistrates sanction you, under the pretence of freedom of discussion, in putting up a mock altar, and in putting on the sacred vestments of the Roman Catholic priesthood to turn to mimicry and buffoonery those rites which they, regard as essential parts of their religious worship, 1 necessarily leading to excitement and calculated to pro- 1 voke a breach of the peace, you are quite mistaken. 1
Newspaper Details
Evening Star
London, Middlesex, GB
Mon, Jul 05, 1858
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Heart T.
JM 26 Jul 2023
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