The Enquirer

LAW INTELLIGENCE

GUIREY vs. MEADE

This was a suit instituted for damages on the score of character by the Reverend William Guirey minister in the Christian Church against the Reverend Stith Meade presiding elder in the Methodist Church on the charge of—FORGERY.

The trial came on in the County Court of Caroline, on the twelfth of last month, and as was natural from the character and profession of the parties, and from the novel and shocking spectacle of seeing a brace of preachers, immersed chin deep in litigation, the crowd was considerable—The Counsel on both sides were eminent, and their exertions commensurate—There were twelve magistrates on the bench—The Jury are reported to have been enlightened, unbiased, and independent. They were selected generally from a quarter of the County, the most remote from the scene of sacerdotal squabble:—After a patient hearing of all the testimony and the arguments of Counsel, from 3 in the morning until 4 in the Afternoon, the jury retired, and in about 15 minutes returned with a verdict in favor of Guirey. —Damages $130 and all the costs of suit.

The adverse counsel moved for a new trial, but the motion was overruled by the unanimous decree of the Bench

The man, be he who he may, that first originated—this has been the main, prime cause of this foul business, must encounter, through life, many bitter reflections. To scoffers at true religion and sound morality, he has furnished fresh cause for reproach—he has stained the clerical character—In room of devotion to the musty Folios of my lord of Verulam, Coke, Littleton, and the thousand Reporters of Great-Britain's slanderous common law, well would it have been for the peace and happiness, the character, purse, & principles of the Reverend Divines, had the misapplied sins of the last 18 months been devoted, as it ought, to the study of Sacred Volumes, the hallowed foundation of their faith, and the ostensible standard of their conduct.—We heartily wish them amendment—'Tis never too late to mend—and the gentlemen we are persuaded will agree with us that tough experience is the best possible corrective.

The arguments of counsel we are told have been promised & an account of the whole trial will probably be soon published by Mr. Guirey.

Lynchburg Star