SCENE AT A SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1686, 1 March 1906, Page 2

SCENE AT A SERVICE.

, PASTOR ATTACKED BY A WOMAN i 1 A eorvics, conducted at tho Temporance Hall, Melbourne, on Sunday affcernooD, February 18ih, by Pastor or " Professor " Abbott, was rudely interrupted by a I woman, who dashed on to the platform and belabored the pastor oyer the' head with hor umbrolia. About 30 women and | half-a-dozen mon wore present. The service was nearing its end, and Mrs Turner, thoßoloiat, was rendering a wellknown anthem, when auddenly tho doqr flew open and a middip aged,excited wonjaq burst into the hall, and using a stool and q obair as a soaling ladder climbed on lo the platform. Like a whirlwind she was upep tbo pastor, who was sitting wifi}, halfclosed eyas, following tho song witn rapt attention. Hor umbrella was momentarily raised in tho air, aod do-cended with full force upon tbs preachor’s head. A torrent of abu<o and unsavoury accusations flowed coiso'oasiy from tho woman’s lips as ehs proceeded to soundly thrash tbo objoct of her ecorn. He found himself unable for a minute or two to riso from his chair owing to tbo weight of tho rapidly-falliog blows, but at last, with a yell, ho was on bis feet. Ho shielded his head with his arm?, and ekirmisbed round for an opportunity to disarm (be enemy. Meantime tho excitement among the congregation was running high, There were shouts of “ Pull her down.” “Out with her," “ At her old games again," from which it appeared that tho bellicose visitor had been thoro before. Several mon started walking over chairs to tho platform, leaving behind them the track of upset chairs. Wornca screamed in alarm for the pastor; others in anger und indignation. At last Abbott got an opening, and he rushed in und piiiioned the woman’s arrni. Help was forthcoming from his foiloweis, and tho intruder was hustled from tho platform. “ It was in New Zealand 26 years ago,” explained tbo pastor, “that I met the woman first. I was out riding ono day, aud when niur tho hou-c whore she was living I was thrown from my horse and injured. Her brolher cento to my assistat.co, and through that I becamo acquainted with her. She represented hertielf us a widow, and we were subsequently married, She a-sured mo that there was co impediment to our getting martied, and I of course believed her, Throe children wore born of the union.” Then a seaman who cloimed to bo her husband put in an appearance, but shortly after left on u voyege. Matters went on for a time and tuen tho pastor and woman separated, but ho had made her an allowance to keep thing? quiet for tbo children’s sake. She bad niide disgusting charges against him and membors o! his ohurob } afterwards admitting they wero false. Hq is taking proceedings against her, members of tho soot insisting ou that,