SERIOUS CHARGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2591, 9 June 1923, Page 3

SERIOUS CHARGES.

AGAINST A MISSIONARY.

SENSATIONAL CASE IN DUNEDIN. ALLEGED RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT. Dunedin, June 7. In the Police Court, Abraham Alfred Lind, a missionary, was charged with rape (three counts) and indecent assault. Mr Adams, Ci-oavu Prosecutor, said accused was charged Avith offences relating to three girls. In all three cases there might he a question as to whether there Avas any genuine consent on the part of the girls. He took it that the defence very likely might be that there was effective consent. The Crown alleged that the whole series of occurrences took place under such circumstances as to negative any genuine consent. Accused had been conducting a mission. Among things the mission purported to have was the gift of healing, and it was in connection Avith this mission that be came in contact, with each of the three girls to whom the charges related. Evidence would be called particularly in regard to certain meetings Avbicli Avere known as “waiting meetings.” They were of a peculiar, emotional, religious nature, and it Avas the ecstatic condition produced, particularly in the c-ase of Aveaker females, which would put them to a large extent in the poAver of the pastor. Accused was supposed to have the gift of healing and other special powers. The Crown did uot allege (hat anv of the girls were definitely put in a trance, but the conditions at these meetings were akin to hypnotism. A characteristic hypnotic phenomena was that persons at all subject to influence Avere amenable to suggestion. The girls were put into a condition in which they were easily amenable to hypnotic influence.

Mr Callan, for the defence, disassociated himself from the line of defence suggested by Mr Adams, stating they denied there Avas anything in the story at all. Evidence was given by the mother of one girl, who stated that on Easter Sunday she attended a meeting which was called by Lind. It was really a challenge meeting. Certain charges were, made against Lind, but her daughter was not, mentioned. The third girl named in the charge was mentioned. Lind was saying things against the character of the girl, and declared he had never interfered with an innocent girl. Witness told him he was trying to make them believe he was innocent, when she knew he was not, for she knew what her daughter hud told her. Her daughter got up and told Lind noi to go after innocent girls. , A girl, aged 21 years, deposed to an assault in a room at her parent's liou.se, accused representing his act as treatment for tier nerves. Another girl deposed that she had attended the close of the Smith - Wigglesworth faith-healing mission and had been wonderfully healed of heart and chest trouble, and her nerves restored. The mission was afterwards continued by accused. From -Tune last year she was in the habit, of attending all meetings. The girl mentioned in the second and third charges was very regular at the meetings. She was the first to receive what witness believed to be Ihe baptism of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of tongues. She spoke in an unknown language which none could understand. During the meetings she was more noisy than anyone, although she was witness’s dearest friend there were times when witness had to leave her side because she could not hear the noise. One evening witness had a peculiar experience. She went over and sat. beside this girl, because she felt the girl was in danger. The girl got up and walked across the room, but fell on the floor. Lind got her to a seat. Later he said the girl had got into the wrong spirit. Two men "vent down in the same way. On (he 24tli October Lind told her he bad a message from the Lord for her, and asked her to come to his house the following evening. He said God lmd shown him that he was to he to her as ten husbands. She met him again and the offence alleged took place. Lind afterwards referred to Songs- of Solomon to show that a sister could also be wife “under grace.” She had a feeling of complete helplessness. Another girl, she who fell to the floor stated that accused told her God had showed him she was a second wife to him. She resisted, and told him he was the devil.