Romance of a Waif.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 229, 1 October 1904, Page 4

Romance of a Waif.

LONDON CLERGYMAN DETAINED AS AN EX-CRIMINAL. I

NEW YORK, Aug. 12. ! The Rev. Alfred ilurlcigh Hart, a Church of England clergyman, was arrested yesterday on a charge of having entered the lindted Stales in violation of the Immigration laws, especially those clauses excluding all I'oreiginers who have been in prison. Mr Hart was taken to the immigration station on Ellis Island, and underwent a rigorous examination. j His statements and evidence recently obtained from England have been sent to Washington, and the authorities there will decide whother or not he will ibe deported, Mr Hart is a prepossessing of about forty-five. He settled in one ol the outlying) districts of Urooililyn last June, and announced h|is intantion of opening an English church. Finally he hired a small chapel, named it St. Mary Magdalene's Church, and established lidmself as rector. . ;

Visiting among th» poor and dispensing charity liberally he soon obtainod a large following and wqn general esteem.. The whole district ia ringing with stories of his Christian work of charity. While the actual facts hftve not ypf been made public, sereral newspapers assert that the authorities recently learned that Mr Hart had ibeon convicted of »ome o'Tence in England, and that subsequent investigation led to his arrest.

The reverend gentleman is Raid to have had a very romantic career. He was born at Whitechapel, and became a street waif, but was rescued by a charitable woman, placed at school, and afterwards sent to Chrifitehurch, Oxford, to be educated for the Ministry. Later ha received a stipendiary curate's license in Londo», and did missionary work in Whitechapel, where ha became very popular. j