AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 August 1919, Page 5

AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE.

WITHDRAWAL BY THE “VANGUARD.” In its issue of May 17th last, the Vanguard the official organ of the N.. Alliance, made the extraordinary allegation, “on good authority,” against Dean Darby, of Hamilton, “that on the polling day (April 10) he blessed the liquor cars, and, wearing his sacred vestments, in company with two nuns he carried the sacred emblems along several streets as a token to the faithful that they would be damned if they did not follow his lead.”

In its current issue the Vanguard withdraws, and apologises for its unfounded statement, which was printed on . the authority “of one whom wc have known for many years, and whose judgment wc had every reason to respect/’ It says the facts are: (1) That there was. no blessing of the liquor cars by Father Darby or any other priest;' (2) that there w r a£ no wearing of sacred vestments as alleged; (3) that he was not accompanied, as stated, by two nuns; (4) that he carried no sacred emblems; (5) that there was no token, direct or indirect, that the ‘faithful’ would be damned if they did not follow his lead.”

“In view of what is now affirmed as the result of inquiry,” the Vanguard continues, “the barest justice to Dean Darby demands that we hereby wholly and unreservedly withdraw the statement, we made concerning him in our issue of May 17th. We further tender him our very deep and sincere apology for having been led, unintentionally, to “publish such a misrepresentation of big actions on polling day.”