Interview with Priestly.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 139, 19 May 1883, Page 2

Interview with Priestly.

'■•■■• ; ■■ :.■■• '■ ■i:.:l:7Til> 0} 0, '•.'.-l^l:''.- ;i-i jrae representative for the Northern Waifoa Gazejte lately interviewed Priestlyithe, theological student, who, along with Mrs Hamilton, was recently tried' forthe "mufaeF "of the'latter'is husband, v llff the course of a very long story he comqlatns^tnat the police did not caution him, at : ; the i timer of his arrrest, and also .that, while m gaol, an endeavour was; made to .entpap^him injio ►making written: statements which might furnish evidence against '^him..-rj Heathen, denies that he had ever beeij. improperly intimate with Mrs Hamilton, and adds : I certainly: was very friendly C^Uh, her,, but it was only— yes, you are right ib was a sort of platonic • friendship* I saw then ; no jharm m it., j To, ; the pu^e all things are pure. ...But now, looking at.it from a worldly/ ppinlr pf_ view, I see how jealous neighbours might arid did. magnify it into harm., wjlh regard to the question, '•* did I give a false address as;.to;where.l slept on the; night of Hamilton's death,, i,t was iujbia way :— That evening I called to see the L '.«:.: -3.. ]:I found them all m a heaty drinkiaor , mopd.^ I; ; tried |o : persuade them.oatiofit, and I stayed' till very late In order _that_ perhaps^ jpy presence might influence them, and so I stayed all n'ght. The next , day, when I thought over the matter, it came into my mind, '/..wha't will the people of the church think if evej: 1 J they here that Ispent that night with such a drunken, dissolute lot^ and many of my respectable friends would condemn me for staying m such a dispeputable place ; so I was tempted to ask} Mrs Horn to say that ;I slept at her - place .- on that night*. I cannot give any "definite 'fheory ! as to lwhati cansed; ,poi)r jHamiljton's death, although:il)fe§l convincei^^ that Mrs Hamilton, knew all the particular's. I.was rather ißuprised)tp" that .Mrs ■ Hamilton . had - taken her departure for. Sydney and m her maiden name, too. No, I -shall not join her as you say is.rumpuredi s vl hop^l<may .never look lon.her. face. ( again. „.{ . ha^e suffered deep 4nental : . misery enpugh pp. her account. I sball try to put a long {distance between its as: soon as, j [[pan. I shall not : go into the ministry ; again, - — that trial might be often^thrpwja into mj face. Yes, Ido believe that, spine day the truth of the mystery ' will* ba known. Mrs Hamilton is a^ery^strong willed, but perhaps when ! ;the'cold hand ja.laid upon hershe will, fear to go into the presence of : ,her M^fcjer '$$' ady i load on her .conscience! and , Khe may .confess the dread ipecret; if jhe known it I But god help her, for sLj^must have a „ miserable time of it if so. Will I "fake :^Bth^fla9s T! 6%nerVy^-ThariKßl'vJJJ and with your permission. I.'wtHt light my pjjpe. M I'havie'' pnlylately '(o smoking. 'We' ali ! %p 'it'in \ the- bush yWknow.*: •' ; - ;:;! "' i -'U^ .^to<j^ -

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