ELOPING VICAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8359, 20 February 1913, Page 7

ELOPING VICAR

REFUSES TO TALK TO INTERVIEWEES. CAPETOWN, February 18. The Port Lincoln has arrived here. Knight refused to talk to interviewers, *and made an appeal to them not to pester him. He threatened to threw a press photographer overboard. Knight has created' a favourable impression aboard. He kept in the background, though he played cricket. Tho passengers believe his defence, as cabled yesterday. POPULARITY COLLAPSES. JEERED BY FELLOW-PASSENGERS (Received February 19, 11.30 p.m.) CAPETOWN, February 19. A sensation was caused among tho 610 passengers, who were ignorant of Knight’s identity until tho interviewers and photographers boarded the Port Lincoln and searched for a so-called honeymooning couple. The captain and tho wireless operator were alone aware of tho couple’s identity. Knight was the prime mover in the sports, whilst Miss Grimes presided at a concert. Knight told his interviewers: “I suppose I will get three months in Australia for giving a false name.” ’ He reiterated the rescue work story, and said ho was compelled for the purpose to dress as a- loafer and frequent public houses. Miss Grimes was the only woman who understood him. Has deposit at tho Victorian office represented his entire savings. He was able to account for every penny. Miss Grimes is reticent and depressed. Knight’s popularity has collapsed. He spent the evening in town under the usual emigration permit. He left the quayside in a motor-car followed by tho jeers of hia fellow-passengers. A wireless message from Knight transmitted a statement to the public to tho effect that while working .in Leeds in connection with white slavery he lost his good reputation and tho reputation of his comrade who was working with him through the babbling tongues of people seeing evil where it did not exist. While seeking to prevent a girl from .being sent to a house of ill-fame in Leeds he was openly accused of evil by one of his own church workers. Ho added: "Feeling that I had bronght ruin and disgrace on the Church, I thought that by dying in one country I might recover for myself and restore to my oomrade a new reputation in another." Knight also said: "My wife is not blameworthy. 1 am prepared to bear the consequences of my act. X have no definite plans except working for a living, and seeking even as an outcast to do some good in the world and redeem what appears to be eviL"