AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1912, 4 July 1889, Page 1

AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE.

A few weeks ago it will be remembered that the cable brought news of an affray between the Rev. Mr Spurgeon, son of the great London preacher, and a Lancashire mill-owner Mr James Duckworth, of Caatleton Hill, Rochdale, with whom he had been visiting New Zealand. We have seen a long account of the affair, which appears in the, San Francisco Chronicle. Stripped of the padding in which it is enveloped, the story, as told by the Chronicle, amounts to this: The Rev. Mr Spurgeon travelled from New Zealand to San Francisco with Mr and Mrs Duckworth, The lady, according to the Chronicle reporter, u is some years younger than her husband, is atypical Englishwoman, with a bright fresh complexion, light eyes, and a perfect figure. She is of a quiet dignified temperament, and was admirably suited to carry on a discussion on theological subjects with the Eev. Mr Spurgeon." Their conversations, theological and otherwise, 'it is hinted, were pretty frequent on board the steamer, and the party on i arrival in California visited the Tosemite Talley together. It is alleged that on returning to Waiwona the husband, who had been troubled for some time past on account of the attention paid by Mr Spurgeon to Mrs Duckworth, suddenly turned upon the preacher at the Waiwona Hotel, and said—" I have a mind to thrash ■you.'' To this Mr Spurgeon rejoined >—" Well, do it now," and Mr Duckworth at once rußhed upon him. The bystanders interfered and pulled the men asunder. Next. morning, after breakfast,, Mr Duckworth, according to the veracious chronicler, again announced his intention of pummelling Mr Spurgeon, and took off his coat and " squared up in true British fashion." Mrs Duckworth, it is stated on this occasion acted the part of the friendly mediator, and a !f ( marshall "—who appears to be a superior kind of policeman, which the Californians rejoice in-—came on the scene and took Mr Duckworth into custody, with what result is not stated. ■ The report csncludes:—" When he got on the train at Martinez Mr Spurgeon told a reporter that the whole affair had arisen from a misunderstanding. Later in the day Mr Duckworth made a similar statement, saying that the whole affair had been very unfortunate; that he had spoken to Mr Spurgeon and expostulated with him on bis conduct, but the answer he had recaived i had roused his feelings, and he had assaulted Mr Spurgeon in the heat of passion. The whole thing had been due to a misunderstanding." When we say that out of the '• slight misunderstanding" the Chronicle made over a column of ordinary print, we shall have said sufficient to show how keen must be the American taste for " sensation," with or without any —very solid foundation in fact—and how ingenious is the American reporter in supplying that want.—Press.