“CAPTAIN” BEDINGFIELD.

Kumara Times, Issue 2573, 20 September 1884, Page 3

“CAPTAIN” BEDINGFIELD.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Launceston Telegraph says :

A man named Bedingfield, who was recently expelled from the Salvation Army for running away from New Zealand with a “ Halleljah lass,” has turned his rascality to good account. He still dubs himself “Captain,” though the “ Army ” refuses to be led by him at present. On Satuiday he invited an audience at fid each to come and hear the account of “ how he fell away from God ’’ —that is, of how he tempted a silly girl to leave her homo and family, of how he left his own wife and children starving, and how he played the hypocrite and villain. It is hardly credible that the wife, whom he left destitute, could so far degrade her womanhood as to appear on the platform and countenance the wretched business; but she did, and what is more, a great many people paid sixpence a head to hear this creature expatiate upon his profligacy. The foregoing will explain a somewhat peculiar message that was telegraphed from Dunedin last Monday : Mr A. Masters, hatter, of Princes street, received the following telegram from the Bluff this morning “ S.S. Waihora—Have come back. Mrs Bedingfield and I were starving in Melbourne ; can we stay with you for a day or two 1 Answer sister.—-Reding-field.” Mr Masters sent the short, but emphatic reply, “ No, certainly not.”