The Trial and Conviction of John Church: The Preacher of the Surrey Tabernacle, Borough Road, at the Surrey Assizes, at Croydon, on Saturday, the 16th of August, 1817, for an Assault With Intent to Commit an Unnatural Crime.Anonymous
Religion
The Trial and Conviction of John Church: The Preacher of the Surrey Tabernacle, Borough Road, at the Surrey Assizes, at Croydon, on Saturday, the 16th of August, 1817, for an Assault With Intent to Commit an Unnatural Crime.
Anonymous
Church, J. (John), approximately 1780-approximately 1825 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Sodomy) -- England
On his cross-examination he says:—“I mean to say that the Defendant said
distinctly that he was in the room. I never said to any person after I
had seen Mr. Church that I thought he was not implicated at all in the
charge. I gave a person named _Thomas_ an account of the conversation I
had with the Defendant, but I never accompanied that account with the
observation “he is not implicated”—nor to any person. Mr. Thomas went
with me to Mr. Church’s house, but he did not go in. Mr. Thomas is not a
friend of mine. Mr. Thomas walked with me to the door. It was his
wife’s wish and my wife’s that I should make the application to the
Defendant. Mr. Thomas walked with me as far as the door of the
Defendant, but he did not go in. After I came out from Mr. Church’s I
had some conversation with Mr. Thomas, and I told him partly what had
transpired. It was very short what did transpire. I think I told Mr.
Thomas that the Defendant admitted his having been in the boy’s room, but
I am not very positive as to that point. I know I told him that Mr.
Church said he did not lay hold of him. I never made any such answer to
Mr. Thomas as that I thought Mr. Church was not at all implicated”—nor
any thing conveying that meaning. I never told him directly or
indirectly that there was nothing to implicate Mr. Church. I never told
Mr. Thomas or any other person that I would prosecute Mr. Church for this
crime, because he had said disrespectful things of my wife: but I think I
told Mr. I would prosecute the Defendant for the defamation of my wife’s
character. But this was a considerable time after the transaction in
question. I think I did inform Mr. Thomas that I would prosecute the
Defendant for the defamation of my wife’s character.
The next witness called is Mrs. Hunter, and she says—“I am one of the
congregation and a hearer of Mr. Church. I received a letter, dated the
6th of October, but it had no name subscribed to it. I cannot tell from
whom it came. It had no place of abode or signature, except the day of
the month. I put that letter into the hands of Mr. Patrick, at least I
gave it to Mr. Patrick’s daughter, who gave it to her father. That
letter was returned to me, but I took no further notice of it. After the
letter was returned to me, I put it into a drawer, and I do not know what
is become of it. I looked for it on the Thursday morning before I came
here, but I was unable to find it. I searched diligently for it, but I
could find no trace of it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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