CLAMPETT ALIAS SULLIVAN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1958, 19 October 1889, Page 2

CLAMPETT ALIAS SULLIVAN.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice in your issue of the 15th inst. a reprint from the Rangiora Standard of an account of the doings and sayings in the northern township of that arch-impostor Arthur Clampett alias Geo. T. Sullivan. Probably many of your readers will think that the statement he made about himself, as to his being educated for the Roman Catholic priesthood, etc., is a true version of his early career. If you will kindly allow me space, I will give your readers a true history of Clampett, so far as it is known to several natives of Waterford, now resident in Christchurch, who were intimately acquainted with Clampett and his relations, and are aware of his doings up till a few years ago. Robert and Joseph Clampett, the father and uncle respectively of Arthur Clampett, both respectable men, were formerly in business as shoemakers, and also did work as sextons. Joseph was of a better business turn of mmd than his brother, and forsook the last and spade, and went into the butter trade, at which he succeeded, and is now a well-to-do man. Robert Clampett is still in his old business. The Clampetts are members of the Church of England, and worshipped in St. Patrick's Episcopalian Church, Patrick Street, Waterford. Robert Clampett had a family of three sons and four daughters. Of the former, one is a Church of England minister, now located, I believe, in the County of Armagh; one is with his father, and the third is the redoubtable Arthur. Most of the girls followed the scholastic profession, and one was at the Training College in Dublin at the time a lady now resident in Christchurch was there. Arthur Clampett was educated at the Waterford Model School -- a class of school that is a step above the ordinary Government Board School and was brought up in the Church of England faith. He was a member of the choirs of St. Patrick's Church and Waterford Cathedral, and when any special services were being held in the Roman Catholic Church he was engaged to assist in the singing. He was a clerk in a lawyer's office, and after he left home some years ago he followed the same occupation in

Londonderry. I have it on the authority of an ex-member of the Royal Irish Constabulary that Arthur Clampett was quite steady in his young days, but was always a “ladies’ man.” His after career seems to point to the conclusion that he became a regular ne’er-do-well. The latest authentic information that I have heard as to his doings in Ireland before he went to America was that about six years ago he joined an opera troupe in Belfast. If he now belongs to the Catholic Church, he must have become a convert within the last few years. He is certainly no credit to any Church, and this statement would require corroboration before it could be believed. Since Clampett has come out in his true colors he has done and said all he could to bring ridicule upon his late friends and dupes, and it is most likely that he claims membership with the Catholic Church in order to confound them as much as possible; especially as many of his most ardent supporters belonged to an organisation that is particularly antagonistic to the Church of Rome. As to Clampett’s associates, Mr McGregor and “Brother Marsh, of Canada,” the latter is generally believed to have been in the. "swim,” but McGregor has been their dupe. He is a man of means, and has paid a lot of Clampett’s old debts in the North Island, hence the reason for Clampett having taken great care to keep in his good graces. Hoping this will be of some interest to your readers, I remain, etc., CURREKTE CALAMO. Christchurch, October 16th,