CURATE AND MAID.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 152, 27 June 1914, Page 13

CURATE AND MAID.

The Rev. John Raper, formerly curate at Sheffield and Wigan, was ordered by the Under-Sheriff at Leeds to pay £400 I damages to Mr Joseph Kendrick, j manager of a business nt .Sheffield, who brought the action in consequence of Mr Raper's behaviour towards his daughter, Miss Alice Kcndrick. Raper, who did not put in an appearance, was said to have gone abroad, probably to Australia or New Zealand, it was also stated that he had been deprived of his liviug in consequence of his conduct. Counsel for Mr Kcndrick said the Kendrick family had been worshippers at St. Peter's Church, Sheffield, at which Mr Raper was a curate for some years. In May, 1912, Miss Kendrick, who was then sixteen years of age, came home from a boarding school. Mr. Raper immediately began to pay her attention, and later became familiar with the girl, continuing his intimacy up to June last year. During - the whole of this time, added counsel, Raper was on the most familiar terms with the parents, who were unaware, of what had happened. In July last year, however, he left the district for the church at Wigan, and shortly afterwards Miss Kendrick's parents became aware of their daughter's divergencies from the moral path in the curate's com patty. When the truth became known Mr. Kcndrick went to Wigan with his daughter to see Raper. Raper said, "I have no money,*' to which the father said, "It's not money I want: it's my daughter's honour I'm thinking about." Mr. Raper retorted. "Do you want mc to marry her?" and Mr. Kendrick answered, "Certainly.'' The girl, however, was too overcome to reply when Mr. Raper asked her to marry him. Raper then said he would have to leave the Church, and Mr. Kendrick offered to help him to start in business. Raper promiseil to let Mr. Kendrick know his answer by. the following Tuesday, but he ignored his promise. 'Mr. Kcndrick then made a communication to the vicar, and also apprised the bishop. Raper later visited Sheffield, and over the telephone made allegations againsc the girl, which, said counsel, had not the slightest foundation. - ■■ ■ Mr. Kendrick, in giving an account of the interview at Wigan, said Raper told him, "If 1 pop it. that .will do mc no good, and priissie acid Will do no good, either. 1 ought never to have been.a curate," a remark with which most people will find themselves in cordial agreement.