CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST A NORTH DEVON CLERGYMAN. EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE.

On Wednesday Crediton Petty Sessions , before Mr. C. Ireland (in the chair), and Lieutenant-Colonel Wyatt-Edgell, the Rev. John Chanter Blackmore, rector of Morchard Bishop, was summoned by William Tronson, M.R.C.S, of the same place, for unlawfully assaulting and beating him at Morchard on April 11th — The assault arose out of defendant sending his men to a stable rented from defendant by complainant, and taking therefrom a chaff cutter which had been kept in the stable for over three years. Defendant, who was accommodated with a chair, pleaded not guilty.

Since the summons had been issued defendant had written several threatening letters to complainant, which with the consent of the Bench he would read in Court. —Defendant: I strongly object those letters being read and made public. They were written subsequent to the assault and are not relative to the case.—Mr Martin: I can quite understand your desire to prevent them being made public. The Bench decided not to hear the letters. Complainant saw defendant on the day in question near the stables and he asked him what he meant by trespassing on his property without consent? Defendant became very violent and called complainant a liar, used very abusive language, threatened to kick him, and then took him by the collar, During the disturbance Mrs. Blackmore came upon the scene and called out to her husband “John, John, remember yourself-"—(laughter). She then got between them and prevented any further assault. Subsequently Mr. Blackmore came to complainant and offered an apology, but witness would not then accept it, unless defendant made it publicly and gave £5 for distribution amongst the poor of the parish. This defendant refused to do and used further threats. Mr. Blackmore proceeded to question defendant as to the language made use of, after his replies he said, “I admit that I made use of the expression you're a D-- liar and I regret it. "— Arthur Burrows, a carpenter said he was at work at the Rectory on the day of the assault. He was on the roof and saw Mr. Blackmore take hold of complainant by the collar of his coat. He was very violent and called complainant a d— filthy, stinking liar.

Defendant, in his statement, said the cause of the ill-feeling was that he had not employed complainant as doctor when he was dangerously ill. For three years complainant had persecuted him in every possible and conceivable manner, and had endeavoured to make his life unhappy. The charge at present against him was one of the most scandalous he had heard of, and the whole parish are up in arms against the complainant -(laughter). He admitted pushing complainant and he was very sorry that the occurrence should have taken place, The day following the assault he went to complainant like an Englishman should and apologised but complainant would not accept it. In addition to this he wanted to extort money, and he was “goaded” by these men behind him (pointing to several influential agriculturists who were sitting in the witness seat). —He concluded his defence by remarking that had been maliciously persecuted.—The Bench considered the assault clearly proved, and imposed a penalty of £2 and costs.

The letter that Rev Blackmore wrote to Tronson referred to above subsequently found its way into the BMJ in June 1892:

‘When the court proceedings are over I have firmly decided to act as follows: As I am now likely to remain at Morchard through the breakdown in the negotiations for my leaving, I shall rigidly boycott you with all my tenants; and if any of them venture to employ you professionally after receiving my circular they will immediately have notice to quit, whoever they may be. As I have eighty houses in my hands, either as rector or lord of the manor, the effect upon your position will be pretty considerable. I shall then advertise in the medical Papers or through the agents that there is a good opening here for a doctor to begin practice without purchase, and I shall offer board and residence in the rectory free to any gentleman who will come and establish himself. I have only to do this to take your practice completely away, with the exception of a few personal friends you may have. Lots of the parishioners have told me they will gladly welcome a new man...... This is my answer to your challenge, and you ought to know by the many defeats the farmers have met with at my hands that when I make up my mind to a thing I leave no stone unturned to gain my end."