COLLECTING A KISS.

NZ Truth, Issue 97, 27 April 1907, Page 5

COLLECTING A KISS.

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An Ashburton Evangelist's ' Amorous Antics.

" Why Don't You Get a Lady of Your Own?"

:'s Opinion of Evangelists and Missioners.

Nigger Nesbi

"Ash-burton, that thriving Canterbury town, famous for Prohibition and sly-groggeries, has been inflicted for the last month or so with a pair of gospel-grinding, missionising Evangelists, who have set up then Gpspel shop m a tent, and are; raking m shekels pretty freely from the simpleminded maidens and old women of. both sexes of Asbburton. This precious pair style themselves the HamiltonHG-armong mission, and they, hawk their paraphernalia— the tent and sundries— round with them. T4iey have been having a very good innings m Aeh'burton, and everything m the garden was lovely until Hamilton struok • a lady ©amed .Nesbit,, the wife of a boxing 'nigger, tod then there yfas trouble. They are a. pair of cute Yankees -these two, and a-fter the dollars all the time. They, even go' so far as to make their own acetylene gas for lighting up . their meetings, although to hear them talk, one would think that the light of their countenances would be sufficient to illuminate the whole' tent/ Any-^ how, when the collection plate goes, round the, total is pretty well clear profit. Hamilton is a saintly-looking cuss, with a sad sort of mug very much like that possessed by Christchurch's late friend, Worthihgton/ H* is single— or says he is— and. has the cheek of the" devil. He goes -down with the girls great, and quite , a number of simple Ashfcurton /lassies have lost their hearts to him; There is nothing .like, a, saintly face and a brand new religion to catch the; tarts. Hamilton is. a great grafter., Every night he, preaches, and three times on Sundays. He devotes; two nights a week to .■..'/ ,.',:,' BAPTIZING HIS CONVERTS- v Adult baptism is one of the peculiar, fads ' of the particular brand of rer* ligion that Hamilton 1 dispenses. The. modus operandi is as follows : Once Hamilton gets a "convert?', it is necessary for that convert to be baptized before he calx be saved. On baptism day the converts (male., and female) retiire to two small tents erected near main one, anid -un.-, dress. They then' put on a big maor intosh and: proceed 1 down to a» bag tank that has "been prepared. Hamilton- (similarly garbed) meets tbem»^ ; and as he dips each one under the water he repeats, -'By the authority of Jesus Christ, I baptize the© m the name of the < Father", and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.," Where he got his authority from 'he doesn't explain, but still he says it is by authority, and that settles it, ..so, far ■•as his .convents are concerned. These latter, by the way, are an emotional, hysterical, brainless crowd. They get carried away* by his silly flap-doodle about the correct form of baptism, and everlasting flamnarffion and* 'other things that have beep.- the, stand-Jtty' of priest-craft for centuries..' Were it not for simple-minded, hysterical persons, these quack religionists would not get the good hearing they do. Hamilton's partner, Garmong has been shaped m a ..different mould. He is a. hard-faced individual who looks as'thoughlhe ought to be. sitting m a cotmtrng^house, making up interests due. He has a voice (oh glorious voice) and he leads the choir, that is when they can muster a choir, and presumably acts as treasurer, advance agent and general business man. Some time ago— about last Christinas— this pair, and a fine,, crowd of girls went missionising to Stewart Island, and there was a hoti time m the .old town that night. Their conduct on the boat coming back- was so. saintly that some o|^ the passengers had to seek shelter m; the lee scuppers for fear of becoming converts . - But to get b ack to . Ash- \ v r ton . Hamilton, so runs the story tokl to Messrs Thomas and Upton, at i!;e Asbburton Police Court, struok up an acquaintance with , \ DAINTY LITTLE BIT OF SKIRT aamed Nesbit.. This lady is the wife af one Nesbit, a black man, arid a pugilist. ' But why he should have picked on .-Keif isn't apparent, but evidently the fact that she is goodlcoking, is reported t« be a hit flighty, and possesses a nigger husband, prompted Hamilton to single her out, ( as 'a good mark for oonversion. Hamilton evidently isa bad judge of human nature, for Mrs Nesbit wouldn't stand converting worth a cent"., and as for being kissed by the smug-faced saint, she was simply right off it. And what is more, she laid an imformation against Hamilton for assault, and the whole, of the Prohibition town was agog when the dase came on for hearing, Mr A eland appeared for the complainant,, and Mr Hair for the defendant; Mr A eland said the facts of the case were simple. The defendant was charged with going down to the house of the complainant, who was a married woman, and, without her con--sent, placing his arm round her waist and attempting to kiss her. Louisa: Nesbit, wife of Herman Alexander ■ Nesbit, residing at Beach Road, said he knew defendant slightly, and had a conversation with him on March 14, when Hamilton asked her to go. to his mee/tin©. Remembered the date because it was the occasion of the Besses o' th' Barn visit. She said she would attend the meetings if her husband gave his. consent. It was not till March 22nd that she saw him again. She was at home when a knock came to. the door, between ten and twenty minutes past five, when she was pre- j paring her husband's tea. It was. Hamilton, and he put out his hand, but witness did not shake hands 'i with him, as her hands, vi-eve all over flowr. Hamilton asked her if there was a mad girl living there, and witness said "No." Hamilton

did not say anything' more, but forced his way into the passage, PUT HIS ARMS ABOUT HER and kissed her. She then struck him on the facet, and Hamilton then said he was very very sorry for what he had done, and that he did hot know what made him do, it. Hamilton then left, and went across the road on his quest for The mad girl. Her husband did not know of the occurrence till last Friday, for she was afraid to tell him on account of his temper, as she was frightened he might knock Hamilton down and get himself into, trouble. She told Mrs Morrell 'at the time. • Had not seen Hamilton again tiil that morning. To Mr Hall .-—Todd Mrs Morrell, who came directly after Hamilton left, a Jew minutes after the mci■- ■ dent happened. Hamilton went across to Mrs Moodie's. -. Wben Mrs Morrell oame m . witness was m a terrible way. Mrs Morrell asked what was the matter. Witness said, "Mr Hamilton has been here." Mrs Morrell's reply; was "so I can ' see." -'Don't you think,'' continued witness to ex-i aminin-g counsel, "that he had a g-reat 'piece of cheek to do whut he .did." She had not got over it by the time of, Mrs Morrell's arrival. Hamilton was m the passage and forced his way m -without being asked. She was standing there with her hands all over flour, but, it was off her bands toy the .time she struck Hamii- ! ton on the face. Witness asked Mrs j Morrell if , she should ten <! 'Alec' r j when he came home, and Mrs Mor- ! rell replied- that she did not know, j Did not discuss the matter any fur- j ther. Nesbit did not come till an | hour later. There was about half am j acre .between her place and . the next | house. .There .was a bouse straight j opposite, and her house could be seen from the other side. Had gone once t^ithe mission meetings. Had at.tended meetings of a similar nature j m: Ohristohurch just over twelve \ months' ago., Her first child, was born, three, years ago. She was .'marriedon October 3rd of last year, and a child was Born months afteriwandsl t>id not have any trouble at Koine', about the child. Had taken steps to" ■get the ohsid boarded out as her 'husband was, out of work, and that would enable them to take a married couple's place: . Witness went to the 1 mission meetings m Ohristchurch of her own free wilL Had never, told aMr GeWbie there of the trouble she had got into attending meetings there. Had never threatened proceedings against any other m^ m St. Albans. If a Mrs- Donmdll said she had threatened to summon a j^aan FOR IMPROPER BEHAVIOR she did not remember anything ajbouti it. Would swear positively she had i^nly had the two children whose births she Wad registered. Herman Alexander Nesjbit deposed that he was a carpenter, and had beeiij, m Ash'bua: ton since January 31 last; He was the husband of the pla<inti(ff, and. baid first heard of the affair from, his wife on Friday last after tea.. Witness immediately went round to Mb Morrell's place. MomeU was a mate of bis X and the two of them went straight round to where Ham-iltott was living.. They were told; that Hamilton .was round at Constable. Jones's housed After speaking to Mrs Jones,' Hamilton was asked to come out, and when he"; did so witness started right off.w it* .'("Look here, Hamilton* what , bus; tess had you at my place.- .• . •-. I. will tabe you to Court, and ihamg you up as high as I can get you." Morrell said to Hamilton, "If you don^t understand him you'll understand me." Witness was speaking out plain en- ; ough for any nian. He told' Hamilton he would make him sit up for it. Hamilton then said, "Come inside a-nd settle it, as I don't want to go to Court:" Morrell was the only on present at the time. Hamilton at first denied any knowledge of the affair, and then said' he remembered it* Constable Jones then came out and said the thing was terrible. Hamilton said, m reply, '•'lf I did it, I'm very sorry." Got a letter. last Saturday, but put it m ' the fire unopened. Was married m October last year, and the child m Court was bis. -Anyone could have a look at it. , ! . The Beach— What has the child gotto dp with it ? Mr Hall— Merely, a (question of credibility. Want you to look at it. The Bench— Don't know that we're going to decide the. paternity. It's a wise' child which' knows its Own father. Witness said he saw Hamilton out--side Constable Jones's house. Hie spoke to him there, and Hamilton pretended he could , no<; understand hitn speakinc. Consta-ble Jones came out afterwards. Witness was wild and was speaking loudly. The' constable said 1 it was A TERRIBLE THING and the case he thought could be settled out of Court. Henry Morrell, carpenter, said he had been m Ashburton, about sixteen Weeks. Nesbit oame to. his place' last Friday night. Nesbit could hardly speak. He asked witness to go with him to where Hamilton was stopping. Hamilton was not there* He asked the landlady where he was, and was told he was at Constable Jones's. Nesbit was* m a flurry on arrival there,, and when Hamilton came out he was very nervous, and said, "just half a minute till I get Mr Garmong." Witness said GarImon.e; had nothing to do with it. jNes'jit was acting irrationally, and witness had to put his hand between -him and Hamilton^ Nesbit

said Garmong had nothing to do with; it— ''-You're the man" (to Hamilton). Hamilton twice denied assaulting Mrs Nesbit, and said he did not remember going down to Beaoh road on March 22nd. Witness said : "Do you remember putting your arm round the woman's waist and kissing heij." "If I did," was Hamilton l^ reply, "I'm very sorry. You know this is a terrible thing. I'm known at Invercargill and all over the place. This would be a terrible thing to get a-bout." .Witness replied that for., doing such a thingV, Hamilton deserved all he' got," . Garmong said, , "Do you thing, men like us. would do such a thing.." v Neshit. • said, "'Yes; you are just the very, men who would." G-armong said ma more. Jones asked them inside to settle it,. They went into a front room and. Constable Jones said it was a serious thing— if Hamilton did such a thing he deserved going 'before the public. Jones and Nesbit went outside, leaving witness and Hamilton m the rooni'. Hamilton started to preach . religion but witness said that, that had nothing to do with it! All witness wanted to know was whether he went to NeaTtft's house arid assaulted the woman, but he would not give a proper answer. {Hamilton said he did not go to Mrs Nesbrt's house and afterwards said he had 'been there twice. Would swear he said to Hamilton, "Did you not force your- ! self into Mrs Nesbit's." He meant that' ! HAMILTON WAS BOUNCEABLE. [Mrs Nesbit did not think he was I all there. Mrs Nesbit told ham on I March 23 . He sajd he would not tell Nesbit because he knew his temper. Kiiew Nesbdt for five years, carp-en-jtering together. Nesbit was a bit lof a boxer, running shows, with witness m Christohuroh. They were at Jones's five to seven minutes before I Graniw>Ejg came on the scene. Hamilton .both denied and admitted he was at the house. Maud Morrell, wife of the previous witness, said that he remembered seeing Mrs. Hamilton near Mrs. Nesbit's on a Friday, three or four weeks ago, between 5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Mrs. Nesbit had invited her to tea. She saw Mr. Hamilton pioing away from Nesbit's. Mrs. Nesbit, on her arrival, was upset. Hamilton said he came to see* iif there wias a mad girl there. Hamilton insisted that there was, and forced bis way m the door, and kissed Mrs. Nesbit, who told her this immediately on hear airriv,al. Mr. Nesbit seemed . on the verge of crying. Could hoe say' if any insane woman lived on Beach Road. . This closed the prosecution. Mr. Hall said the case was one m which the creditability of witnesses must decide the point. The defendant would give an absolute denial as to the allegation of assault. On tibis particular occasion he was makiais enquiry for a person who had charge of a woman who was NOT QUITE RIGHT IN HER HEAD, If they, were to scrutinise the evidence of all woman, they must scrutinise the evidence of Mrs. Nesbit, who had had to make the admissions she did that day. Many noble gallant men had had allegations of assault of this kind made against them. He could fairly describe the proceedings as being outrageous. If evidence suoh as put forward, which .all went back to the uncorroborated evidence of a woman, was to te allowed, life would be a burden to', them. The defendant said that he had been carrying on mission work m Ashburton for some time; He had been engaged m such work since 1897, very largely m the State of Ohio (U.S;A.) He had been m New Zealand since June last," and m Asbb'urton about six and a-half weeks. On the day of the Besses' o' th' Barn Band was : the time of the first issue of the Ashburton Christian, and at the beginning! of the mission hclre there were very few helpers. He was helping m the delivery of papers, and m Ms round he came to Mrs. Nesbit's. On approaching the house, j Mrs. Nesbit said she had heard 'him preach m Christchurcli. Mrs. Nesbit was sitting, on the firont ; dorr step, and witness asked her to come and go into mission work here. Mrs. Nisbit said her husband was not a Christian. A few days afterwards— he did not know th°, date— one interested .... m the Misson,. asked for some, explanations, and asked him .to visit her, saying that she ; was attending. a. marl lady. He proceeded down past the Grove, about; a quarter of a. mile out of the town. He made enquiries, and ultimately came to Mrs. Nesbit's for the purpose of en-quiring, and alfi 0 to ask her to come into fellowship. The door was open, and. Mrs. Nesbit, coming from the kitchen, asked him to come m. He just stepped on the inside of the doorway i She asked him to come on, but witness said "No." As Mrs. Nesbit said she knew nothing about the mad woman, "he said he would ask across the way. All that further happened was witness's request to Mrs. Nesbit to come to the mission. He then proceeded adross to Mrs. Moodie's, where he found exactly WHERE THE MAD LADY LIVED. The only other occasion he saw- Mrs. Nesbit was the following Sunday morning at the mission. Ho noticed Mrs.. Nesbit, her husband being with her. Did not see her to speak to her. That was the Sunday following the alleged assault. Did not know till after the second visit that Mr.

Neshit was a negro. The first time he heard anything., of an imputation of improper behaviour was on Neabit's visit to Constable Jones. They Were sitt/ing at tea when a knock came to the door, and Mrs. Jones came back to tell witness that some gentleman wanted to see him. The callers said they wanted to see witness privately, around where there were no ladies to hear. Both men started talking to him at once. Nesbit asked what Witness was doing down at his house with his wife. Questions rolled from the two men ; they were acting like drunken men. Nesbit asloed what lie was doing at his home, throwing his arms around his wife and attempting to kiss her. Witness absolutely denied it, as it was utterly false. He did not understand ths situation at all. They went into the house at Constable Jones' invitation.. Witness did not say a dozen sentences inside, simply sitting, there listening— listening. Constable Jones asked a number of questions, stating he was not interested one way or the other. Saw Nisbett next day, Friday, and told him he did not care to see. him. Kiinaston asked Nesbit where he would be about five o'clock, as he would bring him a Lawyer's 1 letter; asking for an apology by the following Monday. • The following day witness went to a solicitor's office gi-ving; instructions for a lawyer's letter to be sent. To Mr. Acland : Belonged to the Church of Christ, which had no headquarters. There were American headquarters, m a sense, that had charge of missionary organisations. The New Zealand executive had been m, existence for many, years. Collections did not go to the executive m Dunediri:' What Mrs". Nesbit said was absolutely untrue. Could not. £ive any explanation of her making it. Mr. Gannons had gone lip to Cbristchurch to find out facts as to the complainant's character. H,e had never been turned out of any house m Ashburton. On Friday evening when Nesbit and Mdrrell came to Jones', and he went out to' them, Mr. Garmon'K followed him within a minute, and was present throughout •the interview. Witness never apologised, or asked them to come in-. 1 side and settle it. The greater part of Necbit and Morrell's evidence as to the conversation that took' place was untrue. What Mrs. Nesbit charph ed witness with was absolutely untrue. JOHN PORTER GARMONG said he was a fellow missioner with Mr. Hamilton, and had, been at work with him on . and off for about six years. Only a few moments elapsed from the time Hamilton wont out till witness ipined him m front of Jones' house. He heard Hamilton deny the accusation, but he never expressed apologetic sorrow of ,any lund. : Hamilton did not make any i reply to Nesbit's statements made j on the Friday that he wanted some- j thing for -'his time— a practical suggestion that be should be paid something for keeping quiet. Constable Edwin John Jones said, that Messrs Hamilton and Garmong had tea with his wife and himself on the Friday evening m question. Heard the direct accusation against Hamilton, which was denied. Nesbit seemed quite genuine m his 'attack, and that lye 'had heard something he believed to be the truth. Witness only investigated the matter by questioning until he found that there was nothing criminal involved. ■Evidence was .given by W. E. Olsen, as to Nesbit speaking to hian about the. case and by Mr. John. Galf (Mayor, of Ma-taura), and !tbe. Rev.: William John Hastie, of Dun©-, din, as to Hamilton's character; .„, In giving judgment the bench said : " The case before the Court is for an assault. The question of the moral character of the plaintiff has no- \ thing to do , with the case. Mrs. Nesbit gave her evidence m a straightforward way, and it was not shaken by cross-examination. There is corroborative evidence' from Mrs. Morrell, who was told by Mrs. Nesbit the whole facts of the base immed-. iately afterwards. They were afradd to tell Nesbit, knowing he was -of a passionate nature, and a fighting man, lest be should get into trouble. I The evidence has. not been shaken at all. The defence cvi den tlv attach weight to the point that there has i been a conspiracy among the four j witnesses who: gave evidence for the prosecution. We find evidence of no such conspiracy. The sanctity of the home must be protected, and we are | of opinion that an assault took place, and fine the defendant £5 and costs." Mr. Hall asked leave for a rehearing and,- appeal, .owing to the prominent position occupied by defendant. The summons had only been Jierved two days. ' , The Bench said an extension could have been applied for. V / After further discussion between Bench and counsel on the point; V'v Thomas* as Chairman, said that as-, far as the . Bench was concecned, they could offer no opinion.