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SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST…

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SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A PASTOR. REV. J. GIMBLETT IN THE WITNESS BOX. A L the Glamorgan Assizes at Swansea *n Tuesday, before Mr. Justice Sutton and a common jury, the Rev. Joseph Gimbiett, pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Morriston, claimed damages from John Evans, tin- worker, of Aiorgan-street, Pentremalwed, A-omston, for an alleged slander. Mr. S. T. Eva- K.C., A.P., and Mr. Villiers lea- gr- (instructed by Mr. Edward Harris) ap- peared for p .untof, and Mr. Abel Thomas, K.C., M.1. and Mr. John Plews (instructed by Mr. R. T. Leyson) detended. The slander was alleged to have been spoken on February 27th last, ill Welsh, to Jc^ph Morgan, John Morgan, and Margaret Morgan, members of plaintiffs congregation, at the house of the first-named in Pieasant- terrace, Morriston, and the following is a translation:—"1 went to a club in Swansea on Tuesday, January 2ord, 1906. Between 7 p.m. and 7.1J p.m., after leaving the club, I went towards Castle-street, Swansea. Whilst i., Castle-street, and near the High- street end, I passed Mrs. Gwen Williams (meaning a member of the plaintiff' 5 'on- gregation), and said, 'How are you to-night ?' Passing her, I went into a sale-room m Castle-street and waited there ten minutes or .so. I then walked out, and a thought came into my mind as to where that woman (meaning Mrs. Gwen Williams; as going that night. I then followed the direction Mrs. Williams had taken, and got so far as the Lot.gianc' Hotel, and waited there a little time. ;.n I went down St. Helen's- road a little way, and then came back to the Longlaods Hotel. 1 again waited there a Little time, and then turned up a side ~reet and get into Walter-road. When i got into Waiter-road I saw Mr. Gimbiett standing under a tre or lamp-post, smoking a cigar. He was quite alone at the time. In order to make sure that it was Mr. Gimbiett, I crossed -l1e road and walked behind m. Having made sure it was Mr. Gimbiett, I crossed back to the other side and kept an eye on him. I again met Mrs. Gwen Wil- liams at the end of one of the side streets into Waiter-road, and said, 'Good night to yon, Gwen.' She crossed the road and went straight to Mr. Gimbiett and star ed speak- straight to Mr. Gimbiett and star ed speak- ing to him. When I saw this 1 stopped and saw them speaking. 1 next saw them walk- ing away together, and after they had gone a short distance I saw Mrs. Williams arm- ing Mr. Gimhlett. When I saw chis i ".1n after them for a while, but retraced my steps in order to look for a witness. I failed to find T witness, nd when I again looked for Mrs. Williams and Mr. Gimbiett they had disappeared and I was unable to nnd them. I, however, waited in the vicinity of Walter-road for some time, and saw -lr. Gimbiett again alone a short time after. It was further alleged that defendant, also in February, said, again in Welsh, to one Owen Williams and one W. R. Williams: "I saw Mr. Gimbiett with Mrs. Gwen Wil- liams at Swansea on the election day, in the evening, at Walter-road. I watched hem a bit, a then they disappeared in the dark, and she was arming him. When I saw him later he was a' ne. You and the other offi- ¡ cials of he church ought to consider the cor. luct of Mr. Gimbiett with regard to that I woman." Defendant, in his pleadings, admitted some of the statements, but denied f nat they were defamatory. Plaintiff, on the other hand, contended that the words meant that he had been guilty of immorality and adult- ery, that he was unfit to be a member of the I Baptist Church, and that he ought at once to be deprived of his office of minister, and, as a consequence, be had been greatly injured in his character and reputation. Mr. S. T. Evans said the action was very serious, having regard to the position of the parties. The plaintiff came to Morrtston in I L from Uandrmdod, and had before that been at Biaina. Defendant was formerly a member of Zion Chapel, but not during I plaintiff's ministry, and, accord LÚ", to his own showing, was a busy body, apply a much milder te: a than he might do before the case was over. Mr. Gimbiett vas a married man with a wife and seven children, and Mrs. Gwen Williams also a married wo- man, about whom defendant seemed to have at once become suspicious, though why be (con- ') did not know, as she was a thor- oughly respectable woman. The story con- tained J. the slander spread like wildfire, but the first thing plaintiff heard about .t was from Mr. Owen Williams, who was one of the deacons of the chapel. Counsel was proceeding to show that plaintiff called a chapel meeting, at —hich Mr. Williams at fir-' declined to say who had uttered the slander, when Mr. Abel Thomas objected. Mr. Evans: He was bound to call a meet- ing. What was a minister to do who Lad been charged almost with misconduct with a married lady? The Judge advised that the resolution I passed at the meetinj should be withheld for the present. Evans proceeded to explain that on the day of the Gower Parliamentary election, plaintiff, being a supporter of Mr. T. J. Wil- liams, came down to Swansea to see Mr. Ed. Harris, the agent for Mr. Williams. The story that he went to Waiter-road was en- tirely concocted. Mr. Gimbiett was not in any way near Walter-road at all, and defend- ant's story was but the invention 01 a wicked ]1 tnd suspicious mind and it was important to Doth the plaintiff and Mrs. Gwen Williams that their reputations should be cleared. PLAI-.TIFF IN THE BOX. Rev. Joseph Gimbiett, plaintiff, examined by Mr. Vilhers Meagsr, spoke of increased membership and reduction of debt during uis ministry at Zion, and then detailed ..a incident of last August. Defendant 6 iatner had died, and on the day of the funeral de- fendant came to plaintitf" s house and said, "Are you coming down to bury my father "Yes, if I am asked to do so," was the -.eply. Then defendant got into a rage and said plain- tiff was not fit to cea minister of the Gospel, and also accused him of having passed him (defendant) and his son in the street. Plain- tiff said he was sorry if he had done that, and defendant went a.way saying he would "remember nie for this. He took defend- ant's coming an invitation to bury the deceased father, and accordingly officiated. The Judge could not understand the rea- The Judge could not understand the rea- son for defendants rage. It transpired that defendant had previous- I ly tried to get another minister to officiate, MMl had failed, as deceased was a member of plaintiff's chapels. Coming to the meetings it which plaint of endeavoured to get the name of the author of the slander in ques- tion, Mr. Gimbiett said it was on March dth that he got the name, and he issued a writ on the following day. Mrs. Gwen Williams was the wile of Mr. Charles Williams. Do you know them well?—Yes. Both husband and wife?—Yes. Do you call at their house?—Yes. As you do with other members of the church ?—Yes. On the 3rd January were you in Waiter- road at all?—No. Standing under a tree or lamp-post smok- ing a cigar?—No. Did you soe Mrs. Gwen Williarrs there or anywhere else that day?—No. Plaintiff qualified this by saying "anv- where in Swansea that day," and to the sug- gestion that he crossed Walter-road with her on the day in question, said, "It's an abso- lute lie." There was not one iota of truth 'n tl-3 statements made by defendant. Asked to detail his movements that day, plaintiff said at about four o clock he called upon Mr. and Mrs. Williams, and ho and Mr. Williams left to vote together. Sub ■»- quently he had tea with the chairman )f LIJC Treboeth Liberal Association, and then K-ok | car to Swansea, visiting the offices of Mr. I Edward Harris. He was there about -en minutes or quarter to eight, and had ccme down thinking the result would t" ceclered that night. He saw Mr. Edward Harry's clerk, and after waiting about for ten min- 'j utes or so left and went to Collets street and called upon Miss Walters, the iro-t-'Tti. He knew her and her sister, and atived there talking for some little time. From' here te took the car and went home direct, reaching there about 9.30 o'clock. The next day you were in VYa'tar-icaO ?— Yes. What was on?—A social witi the British Women s Temperance AssocÜ.; )11. W here.'—In the Memorial Baptist Chapel. Many of your congregation th-re?—^es. Your wife and daughter? — Yes. And, lD fact, was Airs. Gwan Williams also at the social?—Yes. Were you ever alone with Mrs GWell \1'1 liams that night?—Not at all. Mr. Abel Thomas interposed that it wes n.ot suggested on that night. Further examined, plaintiff said that he wao paid by voluntary the condition being a minimum of £11 per month. Since the utterance of the slander the contributions had fallen off by £2 16s. per month, and n- stead of receiving about thirty invitations *o preach at special services he had only got one invitation. The membership of his own church had also fallen ofi, and some of the members said "they won't attend until I clear myself." CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THE PLAINTIFF. ±n opening his cross-examination, Mr. Abel Thomas began to question plaintiff's losses by attributing them to the passing awa_* of the Revival. Plaintiff denied this, but admitted that in January of 1905 the subscriptions amounted to over JS17. There was a falling off to a considerable amount from March onward of last vear,— Yes. « plaintiff said that defendant's late father was an old member of the church, and he (plaintiff; knew he was ill and dying, but only called upon him once. That was be- cause he was rot kindly received, and he felt he ought not to go there to be insulted. W hat did he say to you?—He said he was surprised to see ill) there. Is that the insult?—Weil, there are insults conveyed by actions as well as words. Plaintiff explained that defendant was in- dii.^rent, and his conduct seemed to show that he (plaintiff) was not wanted. Gate- goricaiiy, pUintiif detailed his various min- istries and the reasons for his leaving. Chiefly these reasons were in order to obtain a .arger here of influence. At Blaina he admitted there was some trouble. PATERNITY PROCEEDINGS AT BLAINA. Were you charged at Blaina by a girl with being the father oi her child?—Yes. And did the petty sessions make an order upon you?—No; 1 cleared myself both in the church and liie court. Did not the petty sessions make an order? —No, sir. Continuing, he said that irefore this he was seven years in Merthyr, but had newr had an invitation to Temple Chapel, Newport. Not at any time?—I've rrached there. Coming to the allegro. slander, plaintiff said tha. defendant was deliberately trying to injure him oy making the false state- ment. A young man named Hughes was request- ed to stand up in court, and plaintiff said he had never seen him before, nor passed the time of night with him. Before Mr. Owen W illianis mentioned the slander in a definite form he (plaintiff) had heard certain inaefimte rumours. He never toki Mr Wil- liams that he had not been in Swansea at all on the day of the election, but that he was never in Walter-road that night. "Th2re was a disturbance in your chapel last year?" aske.. counsel, holding up a copy of the "Daily Poet." Yes, sir," was the reply. "It was about the beginning of last March twelvemonths." Let us understand—did you give notice to leave?—That would be two years next Oc- tober. Ai -1 not in March?—No; there was a dis- turbance last year there. Yes, and was there a disturbance two years before that as we'd?—Not exactly a dis- turbance, but a section of the diaconate were making it very unpleasant for me as a min- ister. For how long?—Well, I should say about making it very unpleasant for me as a min- ister. For how long?—Well, I should say about three years. io were they?—Richard Hughes, Rich- ard Thomas, Philip Humphries, and W. R. Williams. You don't seem to have mentioned Owen Williams amongst others. Was he one of them?—Well, not so active- as the others were. By the Judge That would be in 1903. Counsel: Did you withdraw your notitra? Plaintiff: I gave in my resignation; but friends in the church convened a public meet- ing and they decided unanimously that I should be asked to reconsider. Was that during the Revival or after?— The Revival had not broken out. Now, last year, after the Revival, there were fresh frictions?—Yes, through one of the deacoiu being undisciplined. Did you say that some of the members of the church were starving you?—Yes. And that you had been persecuted by some of tiiem?—Yes. By the Judge: They were the same dea- cons as before, and the cause of this disturb- ance arose from one of the deacons giving only a penny per week towards the ministry, and his conduct was brought before the church meeting. The Judge: What was said about that? Plaintiff: A vote of censure was passed upon it. In other cross-examination Mr. Abel Thomas suggested that plaintiff must have known that in such a division as Gower the poll could not have been declared tne same night. Plaintiff said he did not know it. Mr. S. T. Evans: He has not been a can- didate, Mr. Thomas. (Laughter.) } i r. Aodff homas He ought to be very glad of that. (Laughter.) Plaintiff said it was not impossible to give the result, as the boxes could -ave been conveyed in motors. The re-examination by Mr. S. T. Evans elicited the information that the girl mak- ing the Blaina charge had been a servant in plaintiff's employment, but was —smissed icr misconduct, whereupon she said she would ruin plaintiff's family. The magis- trates dismissed the charge without calling upon plaintiff to give evidenoe, and twelve months after when he left Blama the church presented him with £50 and some silver ^^Joseph Morgan, student for the ministry, and member of plaintiff's chapel, deposed to the utterance of the slander bv the defend- ant. Witness was not sure whether in con- nection with a "side street" Page-street was mentioned. In orde" to make sure it was Mr. Gimbiett, defendant said '1 went from one side of the road to the other to make sure whether it was Mr. Gimblett." Witness bad given his evidence rather hesitatingly, and counsel asked "Do you know Mr. R. T. Leyson, solicitor, of Swan- sea?" "Yes, I do," was the reply. "Have you seen him in this matter?"— Yes. He n the solicitor on the other side?— Yes. Cross-examined by Mr. Abel Thomas, wit- necti said he was a nephew of Mr. Charles Williams (husband of Mrs. Gwen Williams), and asked w hetuer Mrs. W illiams aDpeared to be calm and collected when she returned home on the night of January 23, he said she was rather flvrried. Counsel And, ^nally, do you say Mr. Chas. Williams got into the house through one of the windows and opened the door?' Witness: Yes, sir. In answeT to Mr. S. T. Evans, witness said he knew that --rs. Williams had been to her father's house, and that she said she nad helped to take her brother home from the public-house. MRS GWEN WILLIAMS' VISIT TO SWANSEA. Mrs. Gwen Williams said she had had rhree children, and was expecting a fourth. She ha. always lived quite happily with tier husband, and was still on good terms with him. She .new Mr. Gimbiett, as she was no'.v a member of his chapel, though she was formerly a Congregationalist. Mr. S. T. Evarrs: Has he ever behaved in any other way tha-i a minister should? Witness No, sir. Liie never saw me plaintiff after he called at her house on the afternoon of the elec- tion day—not on that day—and was not in Waiter-road at all. She did go down '0 Swansea- by the 6.30 car from Morriston, > moet her sister (Mrs. Ann Jenkins). and n?y went to Boots', cnemist, in College-street, ¡ and then to Mr. Bridgman, a saddler and doctor in HeatbRdd-etreet. Thij was vor her sister's daughter, who was not well. Th then went to the Grosvenor and had some cakes, and then to High-street to take the car. Here they found their brother m drink, and her sister went on by the 9.20 car, and witness stayed behind to help her brother home. This she did and took him to her father's house, after which she went to her own house and found her husband and the last witness there, to whom she told everything. Cross-examined, witness said she lost '.he door-key of her house that evening, but found it next day in the linings of her dres6. j Re-examined She had always found Mr. Gimblett a thorough oentleman and a good Christian. ° Corroborative evidence as to Mrs. Wil- hams' visit to Swansea and the return to Morriston was given by Mrs. Ann Jenlcins (the sister referred to), and Luther Davies, Morriston. who deposed to seeing Mrs. Gwen Williams in tie tram with her bro- ther, who appeared to be und-sr the influ- ence of drink. Mr. Abel Thomas' cross-examination of Davies was directed to show that Mrs. Wil- liams met her brother in the tram for the first time that evening, and witness admitted that she went from the non-smoker to the smoker, and said, "Rees, how are you?" Mrs. J. H. Jenkins, wife of the head- master of Llangyfelach Schools, and one of the lady canvassers at the election, deposed to meeting Mr. Gimblett at Morriston on the evening of the election day. "How are things looking?" she asked. "Hopeful, I think," was the reply. (Laughter.) Mr. Abel Thomas: Are you a Primrose dame? (Laughter.) Witness Does that concern this case ? (More laughter.) Mr. S. T. Evans agreed, and said he would not even ask the witness if she was in favour of the Franchise. (More laugh- ter.) I Ivor Powell, clerk with Mr. Edward Harris, solicitor, deposed to Mr. Gimbiett's visit to his employer's office on January 23rd, and Miss Hannah Walters, fruiterer, College- street, fixed the visit to her shop later on in the same evening. Mrs. Sarah Gimbiett, wife of the plaintiff, said that her husband came home on the night of the election about 9.30. She did not expect him so early, and he said the poll would not br declared till the following morning. She also corroborated the inci- dent of August last over the burial of de- fpndant's father, when defendant said-plain- tiff, whom he designated "boss," was not fit to be a minister, and that he (defendant) would "think of this again." MINISTER REPRIMANDED BY HIS I. WIFE. In cross-examination witness said she re- primanded her husband for going to the I funeral. And yon reprimanded him sharply?—Yes. And you do it often, perhaps?—Net very oft"n—as often as he deserves it. And he deserves it very often?—No, he ha6 been a very good husband and looked after the family. after the family. Witness wtas angry with her husband being termed "boss." though she did not feel inclined to slam the door in defendant's face. Mr. Abel Thomas: I suppose it is deroga- tory to be called" "boss." I would be very glad to be called a "boss" very often. (Laughter). Mr. S. T. Evans Then I will call you "boss" now. (More laughter.) Edith Gimbiett, daughter of plaintiff, cor- roborated the incident referred to. acd said she felt angry at her father being insulted "by such an ignorant man." Mr. Abel Thomas Who had ventured to call your father "boss" and found fault with him because he did not visit his (de- fendant's) sick father. This was plaintiff's case. and the court adjourned till 10.30 Wednesday morning.

CLOSE OF ASSIZE LAWSUIT.

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