Passive Resistance: Further Police Court Proceedings at Newton: Mr. M. Fortescue (chairman), Mr. H. T. Eve, K.C., M.P., Col. Bradford, Dr. Ley, Mr. H. St. Maur and Mr. L. Bearne were the magistrates present at Newton Petty Sessions Tuesday, when a further batch of Passive Resisters were dealt with. Rev. Samuel Lyne (Baptist) and Mr. Ernest James Macey, Highweek, were summoned by Mr. T. S. Underhay, Assistant Overseer, for the non-payment od a portion the poor rate. — Rev. S Lyne, by from whom 3s 6d was proven to be due, said he did not object to pay the poor rate. Without going into details, he said he was there to object to the Education Act, but owing to the satisfactory way in which the religious difficulty was met in Highweek he was prepared pay the money into Court … … The following Bovey Tracey “Resisters” were summoned by Mr. H. J. R. Heath, the Assistant Overseer, and son of one of the defendants, for nonpayment of the respective portions of the poor rate: Rev. Ralph Blake, 3s 2d; Rev. W H. Payne, 2s 10d; Messrs. George Pinsent, 1s; Robert Millar Carpenter, 1s 9d; William H. Heath, 18s 10d; William Pascoe, 1s 9d; James Turner, 3s 6d; Arthur Wyatt, 1s 9d; Jabez Tucker, 3s 10s ; George Tucker,1s 9d; and William Sercombe, 4s 4 1/2d. The Rev. Blake said he was taking the same stand as he did six months ago, and he would again if the Act was not altered. He had a strong conscientious objection to paying a rate for sectarian purposes and that was the only means of his making practical protest. As the Bench were dealing with the cases separately. It pointed to the fact that separate warrants to be issued instead of one joint Warrant to cover the whole. If he might be allowed to ask, he should like to know the reason the Justices were adopting a different course from last time? … … Mr. Pinsent said his only reason for not paying the rate was because he did not believe in the Act. It was contrary to his own conscience and to the teachings of the Bible. He refused to pay voluntarily then or at any other time. … (continues) …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0340 Bovey Tracey: George Pinsent: 1844 – 1937