"THE SEAL OF CONFESSION."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 509, 17 May 1909, Page 6

"THE SEAL OF CONFESSION."

Sir, —My attention has bean drawn to tho telogy&phed report of a'Hastings case, under the above heading, ,whioh appeared in a recent issue of your paper, and has been extensively copied and commented upon editorially and otherwise !The report,' though correct, ia unintentionaUy unfair to tie Rev. Mr. Hobbs, on whoso behalf I pleadod his statutory privilege as a minister on the hearing of the charges against the accused. It was, as stated in your report, asserted by the prosecution on that occasion that he had divulged to certain parents a confession alleged to have been made to him by the accused, who was also my cb'ent. But there was absolutely no evidence adduced in support of the assertion, and my arguments based on it were evidently considered wholly irrelevant by the Magistrate, who _fully sustained the reverend' gentleman's privilege. The comment referred to has been based on the assumption that what was merely an unsupported assertion was a duly proven fact. I trust that you will accord this explanation due publicity.—l am, etc., B.J. DOLAN.