CLERGYMAN GAOLED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 96, 18 September 1914, Page 2

CLERGYMAN GAOLED.

SIX MONTHS' HARD LABOR. .CHARGE OF INDECENCY IS PUBLIC STIU&ET. Christchurch, Tuesday. The name of '"Arthur Todd" was • .taken very much in vain. at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when a youngishlooking man was Vhurged ■under that .name with wilfully ami indecently exposing himself in Colombo street, Sydenham, and with using .obscene language. Ho .appeared in the dock thoroughly I well dressed. His iron-grey hair was ibrcwbed carefully over what looked like a strong face, llis agu was given as forty-two, but he looked younger. Mr O. K. Salter appeared for the accused, who elected to 'be dealt with summarily, and pleaded net guilty. It was whispered in the court that -tilts accused was a wearer of "the cloth/' aard had appeared under a false name. A cwculaT found on Mm by tlie police, hearing I*s photograph, announced him tlhe "Rev. A. T. Braiasby," of Wellington, who was booked to deliver a popular lecture in the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church tonight—"admission silver coin." J lis counsel declined to state wnat .he knew about the accused. The court was cleared, as Rub-lnspec-tor -Mackin'iou announced the ease to have unsavory revelations. The chief witnesses were two girls, of about < eighteen and twenty, who gave their , evidence quite serionniy and muuM-ak- 1 ably as to a disgusting exposure com- | iititW just ml the Svdenhani post, of we. 1 in Colombo street, They said tliey liad ( ru:i a'.v.iy and informed a constable, who went after Todd (or R-ramhy) ami ( airested him after .some dodging. ' accused had thereupon fallen on bis knees, saying that it was his first of-, fence and would be his last. If any corroboration was needed itwas supplied by Constable Williams, who said that when he went after I "Todd" the letter's trousers fell down. R He fought all the way to the station, I and attempted to foolfe at the finish. , I

Mr Salter was a bit crestfallen after bearing 'the evidence. "This- i« absolutely different from my instructions," saia lie, "that it piacea ink.' .in a difficulty. The accused is perfectly willing to go into the box." "Y'ou toad 'bdtter call Mini, tihen, - ' said ill - Bishop, "Of course lie runs a rwk,'. and you had bettor advise hint. If he won't act 011 your advice tliat cleats you." Mr Salter consulted 'his client, and returned perplexed. "I do not wish to bustle you," said the 'Magistrate. Mr Walter dropped the idea of calling tlie accused. "I had better state the facts given ■mo," lie said. "They wilil carry no weight," said the Magistrate. Mr Salter went on to say that the accused had been visiting oil the lulls, and, coining tack, had entered a garden nrei-r the Methodist lUhurch for a certain purpose. Hearing tome whispering in tSio corner, and realising that it carao from girla, he came out and ran into the arms'of the policeman. "IYVhat did ihe beg pardon 1 for?" queried 'the Magistrate. "1 cannot say," said Mr Salter.

"limiooent people don't ask to 'be forgiven," said ihe Magistrate, "or try to get away. The case Is about as complete as it could be. lie hag tried to mislead 1 you." "I can give Your Worship ample evidence of character,' persisted Mr Salter. "It goes for nothing in sexual cases," said Mr Bishop. "It might only go in mitigation of punishment. I 'have repeatedly said that if there is one class of offence against which the public have to (be protected it is offences of this nature. They arc domoralising in ,the extreme, and I have always dealt stf' vercly with t'hem. Cases of this nort are so utterly disgusting there is no redeeming feature about them, llere are two young girls (and we have liad ca,ses in whidh a whole school has been concerned) insulted by a reprobate 'rf a njan who is absolutely beneath eontcbfpiv -Ww What w he?" ' ' . ' "I do not toow -whether it is his vWifc name," said Sub-Inspector Mackinnon, "but .pupera found on seem to show that he h the Rev, - —. Here the official .file was handed up to the Magistrate, containing' the photography and announcement of the Rev. A. T. Brainsby's lecture. "I could tell Your Worship all about him," said Mr Salter, "'out for cortaimj reasons I do not wish to make it public. I will tell our Worr.bip privately." "I will not take any information privately," said the Magistrate curtly. "Ho "is sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor." The Star says the accused's identity is now established. He is the Rev. A. T. Brainsby, of Wollington, and last Pnndav he occupied the pulpit of jp'o Oxford Terra?e Biptish Church. /'