Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In The Irish Courts Of Law, 1808.
disgrace that svossld attach to his character , if the jury did ssot in damages prove to the country and to the society the falsehood of such a charge , ami which only could be done by their verdict . The learned counsel also stated , that by this action the ' right of the plaintiff svould be proved to the situation of the Deputy Grand Secretaryship to the Freemasons of Ireland , and thereby instruct the members of the Order svhere they ought to applfor such Alasonic documents as they had occasion for
y , the defendant having assumed upon himself the situation , and thereby claiming the fees that ss'ere attached to the office , and also in that right publishing and circulating the libels on svhich the present action svas founded . The plaintiff then proved the publication and circulation of the alleged libels , and , after the examination of several svitnesses , closed his case . The learned Judge then intimated his opinion that the plaintiff should
be nonsuited ; and the plaintiff having stated his determination to appear , and not submit , but leave the question to a jury of his country , the defendant ' s counsel declared , that out of respect to the Court , they svould not state any case , nor call any evidence . The Judge , after a most able and eloquent charge , and having gone into every minutite of the evidence , directed the jury to find for the defendant .
The jury retired , and , after some consideration , brought in a verdict for the defendant , ivith sixpence costs , thereby allosving the right of the Grand Lodge , and the justness and propriety of publishing fhe expulsion of its members , and clearly ascertaining the defendant to be its proper officer .
COMMON PLEAS , DUBLIN , 1808 . —Alexander Seton , Esq ., Barrister-atlaw v . William Francis Graham , Esq . This ss-as a motion on the part of the plaintiff , to set aside the verdict had for the defendant , at the last assizes at Omagh . On the report of the Right Hon . Judge Daly , svho tried the action , it appeared that the plaintiff' had declared , in the situation of D . G . Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Irelandfor the publication of libelsstated to
, , be circulated and published by the defendant , to the following effectamong others , " Grand Lodge of Ireland , Thursday , April 21 , 1807 ; Resolved , That Alexander Seton be expelled this Grand Lodge , and Alasonry in general . " And that by evidence given on the part of the plaintiff , the action svas brought more to try his right to the office of Deputy Grand Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Ireland , than anything
else . The other libels alleged to be published , svere the subsequent acts of the Grand Lodge of England and Ireland , confirming such expulsion of Air . Seton . The learned Judge in his report , which was very full , and embraced the entire of the evidence given by the plaintiff ' , stated his opinion , that the plaintiff ought to have been nonsuited ; but the plaintiff having directed his agent to appear , and not having done so , he had directed the jury to find for the defendant , the plaintiff ' s evidence not
supporting his declaration . The Court , on hearing the learned Judge ' s report , did not conceive it necessary to call on the defendant ' s counsel ; and after hearing for a considerable length of time counsel for the plaintiff , Lord Norbury svas pleased to declare his opinion as follosvs :
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In The Irish Courts Of Law, 1808.
disgrace that svossld attach to his character , if the jury did ssot in damages prove to the country and to the society the falsehood of such a charge , ami which only could be done by their verdict . The learned counsel also stated , that by this action the ' right of the plaintiff svould be proved to the situation of the Deputy Grand Secretaryship to the Freemasons of Ireland , and thereby instruct the members of the Order svhere they ought to applfor such Alasonic documents as they had occasion for
y , the defendant having assumed upon himself the situation , and thereby claiming the fees that ss'ere attached to the office , and also in that right publishing and circulating the libels on svhich the present action svas founded . The plaintiff then proved the publication and circulation of the alleged libels , and , after the examination of several svitnesses , closed his case . The learned Judge then intimated his opinion that the plaintiff should
be nonsuited ; and the plaintiff having stated his determination to appear , and not submit , but leave the question to a jury of his country , the defendant ' s counsel declared , that out of respect to the Court , they svould not state any case , nor call any evidence . The Judge , after a most able and eloquent charge , and having gone into every minutite of the evidence , directed the jury to find for the defendant .
The jury retired , and , after some consideration , brought in a verdict for the defendant , ivith sixpence costs , thereby allosving the right of the Grand Lodge , and the justness and propriety of publishing fhe expulsion of its members , and clearly ascertaining the defendant to be its proper officer .
COMMON PLEAS , DUBLIN , 1808 . —Alexander Seton , Esq ., Barrister-atlaw v . William Francis Graham , Esq . This ss-as a motion on the part of the plaintiff , to set aside the verdict had for the defendant , at the last assizes at Omagh . On the report of the Right Hon . Judge Daly , svho tried the action , it appeared that the plaintiff' had declared , in the situation of D . G . Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Irelandfor the publication of libelsstated to
, , be circulated and published by the defendant , to the following effectamong others , " Grand Lodge of Ireland , Thursday , April 21 , 1807 ; Resolved , That Alexander Seton be expelled this Grand Lodge , and Alasonry in general . " And that by evidence given on the part of the plaintiff , the action svas brought more to try his right to the office of Deputy Grand Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Ireland , than anything
else . The other libels alleged to be published , svere the subsequent acts of the Grand Lodge of England and Ireland , confirming such expulsion of Air . Seton . The learned Judge in his report , which was very full , and embraced the entire of the evidence given by the plaintiff ' , stated his opinion , that the plaintiff ought to have been nonsuited ; but the plaintiff having directed his agent to appear , and not having done so , he had directed the jury to find for the defendant , the plaintiff ' s evidence not
supporting his declaration . The Court , on hearing the learned Judge ' s report , did not conceive it necessary to call on the defendant ' s counsel ; and after hearing for a considerable length of time counsel for the plaintiff , Lord Norbury svas pleased to declare his opinion as follosvs :