Special occasions in the forest (General)

by MPGriffiths , Saturday, October 27, 2018, 11:55 (2218 days ago) @ Jefff

'Get-together of sorts'

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Article mentions my Great Grandfather, William WICKENDEN, butcher of Blakeney

Gloucester Citizen

Saturday 17 March 1883

William WICKENDEN butcher, of Blakeney, was charged with having, on the 27th of February, assaulted Albert COLEMAN
("Happy Albert"), a member of "The Free Mission Army", residing at Lydney.
COLEMAN was charged with assaulting Richard WILLIAMS, a labourer, -
Mr PARKER, of Newport, appeared for COLEMAN, and Mr CHAMPNEY, of Gloucester, appeared for WICKENDEN and also for WILLIAMS.

It appeared that on the night in question the FREE MISSION party had been holding a service on the "square" at Blakeney, and were on the point of starting for their hall, COLEMAN, MINETT and another were heading the procession.

There was a large crowd, the mission people being added to by some sixty others who had been contemporaneously entertained by a " CHEAP JACK" holding forth in the upper part of the "Square" near the church.

As the mission leaders were walking backwards one of them came into collision with WILLIAMS, and it was sworn that WICKENDEN came up and knocked COLEMAN down, and that although he got up, apparently unhurt and shouted "HALLELUJAH" he afterwards for a period of twenty minutes assisted in conducting the service at the Mission Hall. He became unconscious and was taken to Lydney in a vehicle where for many days he was under medical and had not now fully recovered.

Dr CURRIE, of Lydney gave evidence as to the injuries, and stated that the found COLEMAN on the 28th of February suffering chiefly from nervous shock with slight swelling on the left side of the mouth, and that the symptoms were consistent were the result of a fall on the head.

In the charges preferred by WILLIAMS aginst "Happy Albert" it was sworn that WILLIAMS was first knocked down by COLEMAN.

After a long hearing WICKENDEN was convicted in a penalty of 20s., and costs, and the summons against COLEMAN was dismissed.