THE POLICEMAN AND THE DEACON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4174, 6 December 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE POLICEMAN AND THE DEACON.

' A most iridiculus sccno occurred at a church in Newcastle-on-Tyno not long ago. A policeman was passing a church as a gentleman camo out. Tho man jokingly accosted tho policeman, and said he was wanted inside, meaning that tho minister would be glud to have him turn from the error of his ways, and seek: tho truth. The stupid policeman thought there was some trouble inside, and so went in. • The sexton seeing a policeman, was anxious to give him a favorable seat, so ho said, " Come right up here," and he took him to a.pow, as much as: to say, " help yourself." There, was another man in this pew, a deacon with a sinister expression, as tho policeman thought, and he supposed that this was tho man. they wanted arrested, bo he tapped tho deacon on tho arm, and told him to come along,: The deacon turned: pale, and edged along as though to getaway, when the policeman took him by the collar and jerkod him out,into the aisle... The deacon struggled, thinking thc'policeman was crazy, and tried , to get, away, but was dragged along. Many of tho congregation thought.the.deacon had done something, wrong, and somo of them got behind tho deacon, and helped, the officer :to filo liim out. Arriving at the, lock-up, the. policqmun saw i tho mail who said he was wanted at the church; and asked him what the charge was against I lie deacon, and ho didn't know j so the sexton was appealed to and he didn't know ; and finally the prisoner, wus.asked what it was all about and he didn't know, and. after a while- the matter, was explained, and the policeman, who had. to arrest somebody, took the. man into custody wliptold him ho was. wanted in the church, and ho was fined £1 and costs.