A Curious Notice Print E-mail
The Maryport Advertiser - April 6, 1882
A CURIOUS NOTICE.
 

 At the Malling Petty Sessions, on Monday, the Rev. John POLEHAMPTON, rector of Ightham, near Sevenoaks, was summoned for wilfully and maliciously publishing a defamatory libel concerning William Wittaker SELBY, the son of an extensive farmer, on March 12.
 
 It seems that on the morning of March 5th, the lad SELBY and two other young men left the church during divine service, and at the close the defendant, it is alleged, posted the following notice on the door of the church.
 
 “Notice - If William SELBY, William Court, Herbert Court, and other persons annoy the congregation again by going out of church before the service is ended, and in a riotous manner, they will be prosecuted. - John POLEHAMPTON,  rector.”
 
 On the following Sunday the complainant saw the notice attached to the door, and having torn it down he complained to his parents, who instructed proceedings to be taken against the rev. gentleman for libel. Mr. STONE, for the defendant, submitted that the notice did not take the form of a libel, and that if it did, there was no proof that the William SELBY mentioned in the notice was intended for the complainant.
 
 The Bench committed the defendant to take his trial at the Kent Assizes, but admitted him to bail.
 
 
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