CLERICAL COMEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 27 May 1907, Page 4

CLERICAL COMEDY.

SEQTJAL TO A SEARCH FOR..SERMON MATERIAL.

New York, March 13. Now York is vastly amused to-day over a policecourt episode in which an asceticlooking young clergyman, the Rev. William Mears, appeared in the unusual character of prisonor, -charged with assaulting a constable in tlio execution of his duty. Mr. Mears is assistant-rector at St. Matthew’s, a fashionable Protestant Episcopal church in West Eighty-fourth street.

He attracted the attention of a detective late last night entering a house in a low quarter in the company of a negress. A detective followed the couple, A few minutes later, hearing the clergyman protest that his companion was attempting to rob him, the detective burst into the room. Tlio clergyman immediately took to bis heels, raced downstairs, forced open the front door, and ran into tile arms of another detective, whose nose he punched and whose face he disfigured. The assist-ant-rector, in fact, gave a magnificent display of pugilistic skill. Finally he was arrested and lodged in a police cell.

Ho explained to tho magistrate today that lie was engaged in a pulpit campaign against the depravity of New York. In liis. anxiety to gain fresh material for liis sermons lie decided to study tlio problems in question at first hand.

While engaged in tlio work of research, however, the conviction overcame him that he was in a den of murderers. Ho saw a panel in tho wall moved aside and tho face of a negro appear. A moment later tho detective burst in. Convinced that lie was a criminal, the clergyman struck him and fled from the house. His exit, liowevor, was barred by another man, tlio second detective, whom lie likewise took for a robber.

“I couldn’t imagine,” tho clergyman simply explained, “that any policoman would respond to my cry for help so soon, so I defended myself.”

The magistrate gave full credence to Mr. Mears’ assurance that it was liis intention to report them forthwith to the police. In this conviction lie granted honorable acquittal to the young clergyman whose sociological zeal developed so curious a comedy of errors.

Mr. Hears marched out of court accompanied by liis young and attractive wife, who, it is understood, is deeply interested in tho work of social reform.