IMPRUDENT VICAR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 89, 21 May 1914, Page 3

IMPRUDENT VICAR.

ARGUES WITH CROQUET MALLET. The Bev. John Hammond, ■■vicar-', of Chaconibe (Eng.), bellringer, clerk, and grave-digger, was fined £2 and 8/- costs by the Middleton Cheney Justices for an assault on his manservant, John Whittlesey. The story of Mr Hammond'a life in the parish, of how frequently on Sunday ins sermons are preached to a congregation which is absent, has already been told. It was through the publicity given to his lonely life that Whittlesey came to be engaged. He wrote sympathising with the vicar, who is 82 years old, and offering his services as odd man. He was engaged, he told the justices, to do anything he was asked to do about the vicarage, "including personal attendance on the vicar. A Missing Half-Sovereign. On March 7, however, on his return from the village public-house, Mr Hammond accused him of taking half a sovereign from the library. He handed oyer his purse,, but protested that the 9/2 which it contained was his own, it having been sent him by his sister.. Mr Hammond took the money, however, and with an oath threw the purse on the floor.

Whittlesey attempted to snatch the purse and then, he said, the vicar picked up a croquet mallet and struck him on the head; knocking him to the ground and stunning him. He afterwards followed Whittlesey to the dining room, caught him by the thrat, and threatened to kill him. In crQSS-examination by the vicar, Whittlesey said he had had threepennyworth of brandy . at the public-house. He thought he was entitled to it after putting up with the vicar. (Laughter). Police-constable Fitzhugh said that Whittlesey on the night of the assault looked as if he had been generally knocked about. When he saw the vicar he said he rather fancied he struck Whittlesey on the head with a piece of wood. ]■ LostHisPruden.ee, The vicar declared that when he accused complainant of taking the halfsovereign, and told him there was no mention of it in the letter he had received from his sister, he jumped up like a madman, and used language which was too awful to repeat in Court. (Laughter). . Whittlesey: It was not half as bad as yours. (Laughter). When complainant tried to snatch the money out of his hand, added the vicar, he struck him three light blows on the chest. He was coming a second time when he (defendant) lost his prudence and knocked him down. (Laughter.) He went straight for him. (More laughter.) Complainant was violent, and he (defendant) threw a piece of wood at him, and afterwards threatened him with a croquet mallet in self-defence.

The justices „ intimated that they could not go into the matter of the half-sovereign, but, as stated, lined the vicar £2 and 8/- costs.