THE MINISTERIAL SCANDAL IS THE MIDLANDS. EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATIONS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 420, 16 November 1889, Page 4

THE MINISTERIAL SCANDAL IS THE MIDLANDS. EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATIONS.

Tub "Times" says :—" The Rev. A. JP. Bartield, the missing VValsall minister and Unionist lecturer, has been traced. It is stated that he has arrived in America in company with a young woman. The supposed Invincible letteis, it is said, were written either by himself or on his account as part of an ingenious attempt to cover his elopement. It seems that for two years past the rev. gentleman has been lodging with a Mrs Gunn at Clapham in the name of Wilson, and us the husband of a young woman ot twenty. He divided hid time between this place and his home. When he went on hi& lecturing tours the young woman usually travelled with him. The disappearance was evidently carefully ar- . ranged, llr Bariield sailed" wish the lady on the 29th of August from Liverpool to Quebec by the Allan line steamer Sardinian." This report is evidently founded on a statement published in the "Star.,' last, night. A Wftlsall correspondent telegraphs to our contemporary :—": — " The young woman ' Maggie," who is so closely associated with the Rev. Air Bariiold in the latest disI closures as to his disappeaiance, is the daughter of an old and lospectod Walsall tradesman. She was for some time supposed to be engaged to Mr Barlield's eldest son. Ib* appears that she was his frequent companion in his preaching and lecturing expeditions in the neighbourhood; and the indignation of those who became aware of tins companionship was great. Some months ago she spread a report that she was about to marry a French nobleman whom she had met in a romantic fashion at the seaside, and afterwards at Ripon. She stated that he was the owner of several &eats in France and elsewhere, and was in receipt of an annual income of £30,000. Since Mr Barfield's disappearance letters have been received from her, one being addressed to Mr Barfield himself, stating that the civil marriage with Reine, the nobleman, had been performed ; that they were staitingfor France, where the marriage according to the rites of the Romish Church would take place : and that she desired to thank all her friends, the rev. gentleman included, for their kindnes3 to her. She added that all communications would cease from that time, as fhe was about to travel with her husband for five years before being introduced to his friends." A Walpall correspondent states that there is great unwillingness on the part of the friends of the Rev. A. F. Barfield to believe the story of his flight with a young woman.