"How an Alibi Was Proved."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 June 1911, Page 4

"How an Alibi Was Proved."

The "Yorkshire Post" publishes the following remarkable story, designating the town as X.

A tramp had been charged at the Police Court, with another man, for robbing an uninhabited house. His companion pleaded guilty, but told tlie Stipendiary that the other man was innocent. His Worship knew too much of the dodges of thieves not to be aware that this kind of thing is often done, on the principle of "1 get you off to-day, and you do tho same for me next time." "If you were not ransacking the empty house, whero were you " asked his Worship. "Your Honour, a sort of parson chap found me after I had walked all the evening and was ready to drop for want of food. He took me in, gave me some soup and I)read, and then went out saying he would get a bed for me. He came back, for every bed was full, and he was sorry he did not know where I could sleep. . Just then the rain was coming dbwn in bucketfuls, and the parson said he could not turn out such a night, and as there was nowhere else to go, I must sleep with him, and so 1 did. your Honour."

"Do you mean to say a parson let you share his bed." asked the astonished ■ magistrate. "He did, your Honour." "Do you know a parson in tho town who is in the least likely to do such a thin#?" the magistrate; asked of a detective. After thinking a minute: "Why, yes, your Worship. I think it might be the Vicar of All Saints."** "J will put the case back until the end of the day, so that you can enquire." Later, the prisoners were again in : court, and the Vicar was in the wit-ness-box. "Did you pick the prisoner up last night?"' "I did." "Did you take him home and give! him shelter?" '"I did." "Did he sham your bed with youP" "He did." " I never would have believed euoh a thing," said the magistrate. "Why not?" said tho clergyman. "That- very day we had been keeping the feast of St. Martin, who shared his cloak with a beggar one day. The same night a heavenly' person appeared like unto the Sion of Godi, and wearing half the cloak. How was I ito know who this might 'be, who had not where to lay his head?" "Do you really believe such things in these days?" said - the magistrate. "The world has not so altered," was the reply; "if ever they were true, Why should they not he true to-day?" Tlie prisoner was for the alibi had been proved. Now that-it is so customary for a certain class of agrtators to depreciate the clergy and .the work of the churches, it is well to ~ive publicity to: such incidents as the above. VANGUARD.