CLERICAL COMEDY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8803, 3 May 1907, Page 4

CLERICAL COMEDY.

New Yoek, March 13. New York is vastly amused to-day over a police court episode in which an ascetic-looking young clergyman, the Rev. William Mcars, appeared in the unusual character of prisoner, charged with assaulting a constable in the execution of bis duty. Mr Mears is assistant-rector at St. Matthew’s, a fasiouablc Protestant Episcopal church in West Bighty-fourth-street.

pHe attracted tiic attention of a detective late last night entering a house in a low quarter in the company of a uegress. A detective followed the couple. A few minutes later, hearing the clergyman protest that his companion was attempting to rob him, rhe detective hurst into the room. The clergyman immediately took to his hods, raced downstairs, forced open the front door, and ran into the arms of another detective, whose nose ho punched and whoso face he disfigured. The assistantrector, in fact, gave a magnificent display of pugilistic skill. Finally lie was arrested and lodged in a police coll. Ho explained to the magistrate today that ho was engaged in a pulpit campaign against the depravity of Now York. In his anxiety to gain fresh material for his sermons he decided to study the problems in question at first baud.

While engaged in the work of research, however, the conviction overcame him that ho was in a den

of murderers. He saw a panel in the wall moved aside and the face of a negro appear. A moment later the detective hurst iu. Convinced that he was a criminal, the clergyman struck him and fled from the house. His exit, however, was barred by another man, the second detective, whom ho likewise took for a robber. “I couldn’t imagine,” the clergyman simply explained, ‘‘that any policeman would respond to my cry for help so soon, so I defended myself. ’ ’

The magistrate gave full credence to Mr Mears’ assurance tint it was his intention to report them forthwith to the police. In this conviction ho granted honourable acquittal to the young clergyman whose sociological zeal developed so curious a comedy of errors.

Mr Mears marched out of court accompanied by iiis young and attractive wife, who, it is understood, is deeply interested in the work of social reform.