UNUSUAL OBJECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2207, 25 November 1920, Page 3

UNUSUAL OBJECTION.

TAKING THE OATH ON A PHOTESTANT Bill LIT The Bible in-u.sc in (he local courts of jurisdiction is the ordinary, generally accepted revised version as used in Protestant churches, and although in the course of years thousands of people of various religions take their oaths upon it, an objection to its use is a very rare Hung. One of (hose rare occasions took place at: 1 lie heaving of a criminal charge at (lie Wanganui Supremo Court on Tuesday (says the Herald), when the accused person went into the witness box to give evidence on his own holla 11:'. When lie was asked to take the oilllt the accused Objected, saying (hat he was a Homan Catholic, and loul been brought up to consider it a sin to lake an oath upon anything but a holy book belonging to his own fail'll. His Honour: That’s absurd. Catholic witnesses go into the witness box throughout the whole year and make no objection. The accused repeated his objection. His Honour: We had an archbishop in the box some time ago, and he made no objection to being sworn in the ordinary way. “What do you want to do?” he asked; “although it will make no difference.” The accused: 1 want Die proper book ; some sacred book of my own faith. His Honour: if you won’t lake the oath you can’t be sworn. The accused: 1 will lake it on the Catholic Bible; not on the Testament. His Honour: Perhaps the police can get one. After a few minutes’ wait a policeman came back with the desired book, the accused was sworn in the ordinary way, and the hearing proceeded.