BIBLES AND A SIDE LINE.

NZ Truth, Issue 93, 30 March 1907, Page 4

BIBLES AND A SIDE LINE.

A VERY QUEER CASE.

Isaac Ellison and His Wares.

The Supreme Court will Decide

as to Their Nature,

A very queer case was heard at the Ohristchurch Police Court the other morning, m which it was alleged that the accused, Isaac Ellison, travelled round pursuing the highly moral calling of selling Bibles and something o!f an altogether different nature. If it is true whaii is alleged against him, Isaac is a peach. But that is a matter that will be determined by the Supreme Court, for he will have to stand his trial over the dirty business. It is well known that "preventives" are largely sjold m the colony, too much so. They are a; curse, and population is, and has been, largely retarded by their use. The most respectable shops m the city sell them, but it is surely a most unusual thing for a Bible canvasser to go toting round the country . with them. Thte charge under which Ellison.faced the court was laid under the criminal code, and Detective Ohrystal rightly said that the articles, which were freely alluded' to hiy their proper name during the hearing off the case, were unbecoming, unchaste, and not fit <to be shown to a respectable woman. After outlining the facts the Tec. put Mrs. F. C. Cole, of Sydenham, m the box. She is THE WIFE OF AN ENGINEER of the Tramway Company. The accused, she alleged, called on her one day early m the month when she was m conversation with a neighbour. He wanted her to give him an older for a Bible, and he showed her the book, but she didn't purchase one. When he didn't do any business that way he remarked, "You are a hard case," and asked her if she took money, her reply bejao; m the negative. ! Accused thereupon (took his pocket-book out, and intimated that heMnad something there that he wished to show her. He said, "You don't know what those ase," at the same time telling her the nature of the articles., Accused then wanted to enter* the house, and wouldn't take no for an answer. She eyfentually got rid of him by Slamming the door m his face. • / " . In answer to Mr. Cassidy, who appeared for the prisoner, witness said she had been with Miss Milton before the ' accused canie along ; the latter, who' had "known him nreviously, asked him if he was canvassing for teeth' now, and he then introduced the- Bible racket. Miss Milton left before he showed her. THE INDECENT FAKEMENTSHe showed witness the picturjes m the Lord's story, and also a little dictionary. Then told him she. had one, and couldn't buy, another because she was buying a house. Didn't he ask you it you wouldn't like "these little cigarette things?" I said I didn't know anything about them, and then he wanted to get inside, and said he wanted to induce ' me to buy one. I \told ■ him that " I was washing, and he then said he would oome and help me. Then >I shut the door on him and subsequently informed my husband of what had happened. Albert Charles Cole said that on being told of the matter by bis wife he set out to look for Ellison, but could't ,find him, and then he informed the police. Rose Milton, a portly damsel, was with Mrs. Cole when .accused called, and she asked him if iie was travelling for false teeth still. He said "No, and then offered her a Bible for 255. She walked away, saying "No Bibles for me, thanks." Accused denied the charge when run im by Tec. Gibson, and did so again when he gave ; ey jdence on his own behalf. All he showed the woman, he ' said, were little illustrations.. It wasn't correct 1 to. say that he carted round preventives ; he never had such a thing m his possession m his 'life, nor did he offer her a sum pf money to let him inside. He didn't pester the life out of her to allow him inside, not did he say to her "You don't know anything about these things."' The police had searched his house privately, and found nothing incriminating. He had lived m Christclfurch eighteen years. Magistrate Day held that a prima facie case had been made out, and sent accused for trial.