A HUTT MATTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 2

A HUTT MATTER.

Sir,—lt is 'much to bo regretted that the trouble which occurred lit St. James's vestry, Mutt, Inst Sunday evening should have boon reported in your paper in such an exaggerated and sensational n form. A vorv slight inquiry into the facts would have 'shown that, il worth mention at nil, it did not deserve I.he prominence which your highly imaginative reporter has given to it. Mr. Robbius is a much-respected member of (lie St. James's congregation, very regular in attendance at worship, and useful as a member of the choir, a Sunday .School teacher, and a member of the local brunch of the C.E.M.S. To the great sorrow of his friends he lias for tome wc?ks past exhibited signs of mental derangement, but a magistrate by whom he was examined decided thai there was nothing to justify interference with his liberty. On Sunday evening last Mr. Bobbins wasin his place i» the choir, and was observed--to be intently watching the reader, Mr. W. A. Cross, throughout the service. At its close the choir proceeded as usual into the vestry, and while (lie members were disrobing, Mr. Kobbins assumed a threatening- attitude towards Mr. Cross, and alter receiving an ineffectual warning, made a violent attack. Mr.Cross grappled with him in self-defence, nnd liO'jyas thrown- to the ground.. lAne.. of the choir then cycled for the constable, who was quickly on the spot, and Mr. Robbins was persuaded to go with him (6 see Dr. Hector, who'confirmed the eonstable's opinion Ilial it was a clear case for detention. On Monday a formal.inquiry was held, and Mr. Kobbins was sent to Porirua.

During the. affray something was said about a knife by one of the choirmen, and another afterwards mentioned seeing Mr. Bobbins sharpening a pencil in the. vestry. A knife was afterwards found on a seat, as if it had been put down there after use and forgotten. It is a tiny, innocent-looking, waistcoat-pocket toy with worn-out blades, hardly more dangerous than an ordinary tin-lack.—l am, etc., ■ ■ . JOSHUA JONES, -.- ■ Curate of St. James's.' [Our correspondent's letter appears to confirm the version of the unfortunate affair published in Tjik Dominion - .]