ALLEGED INDECENCY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15219, 5 March 1915, Page 4

ALLEGED INDECENCY.

CHARGE AGAINST METHODIST

CLERGYMAN

A case of a painful character engaged the attention of Mr H. W. Bishop, 53!., in the Magistrate's Court yestorday afternoon, when William Goorgo MJislin, a member of the Methodist ministry -who va& in Chrifrtchurch attending the sittings of the Methodist Conference, appeared on a cbarpe of Jiarins that niornina wilfully and indecently exjioscd himself in a public place, to wit, tlie Botanical Gar-der-s. The allegation the accused Trns .that lie had wilfully exposed his person in tho i>resene<3 ot threo young girls who were eketching on the river b;uik(in tho Gardens near the Acclima-ti.-aiiW Society's grounds. The accused was ivnrc*.en ted by C. V.. iSalter. Senior-Sergeant Mitthiesou represented tho police. In reply to the. charge. 3ir Salter ple.-ided- not guilty. Jle said ho understood that tho police wero not in a position to offer a-ny evidence, and ho appliod for bail, and an adjournment till Siiturdav moruiug. The. Magistrate: Wliy to Saturday? It is ixn inconvenient day. Mr Salter: Accused's father, who resides at Goraldino, has been telegraphed for, and may not reach Christchurch till Saturday. The Magistrate asked Senior-Ser-jjeant .Matliieson what tho position was. Senior-Sergeant. Mathieson said that t!io police were not prepared to proceed | ( with the caso at once. Tho Magistrate: What aro tho facts? Mr Salter: I understand that tho police- aro not ready to proceed, and ;my statement mad© by Mr Mathieson wtil not bo on oath, but will bo published in the newspapers. The Magistrate: I expect tho newsp3pers know all about it. Mr Salter : I wish to avoid tho publication of any statement by tho polico not made on oath. Tho Magistrate (to Mr Salter): You seem to forget that if tho case were taken in tho ordinary way, i should havo asked for tho facts from the police. How is the accused going to be prejudiced? It is a question of evidence Mr Salter: Ho may b© prejudiced in the eyes of tho public. Tho police will mako a siatoment which is not on oath. . The Magistrate: They always do. Mr Salter: That is so, but they have their witnesses present to support their statements.

The Magistrate: Possibly I will havo to adjourn the case. ■ Mr Salter said it was rather unfair to an accused person if statements were published that wero not given on oath. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said that he would not mako any statements that "wero not true as far as the statements mado to him by the principal party were concerned. The poGce wero present that afternoon for Mr Salter's convenience; in the ordinary way the caso would come on on tho following day. The Magistrate asked if the statements of tho girls had been taken. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said, that they had been taken roughly in pencil. There were threo girls, whoso ages ranged from 14 to 18. The Magistrate: They allege a deliberate oxyosure? Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said that one of the three did so allege. Khe said to her companions: "Don't look!" her attention having been directed by a whietdo from the direction of* certain treee in the garden. Sergeant Clarkeon and lie had arrested accused, who was in charge of Mr Young, tho head gardener, and another man. That was exposure number one

Mr Salter (to tho Bench): Will you hea-r this Mrpliaation in chambers? The Magistrate: How can this prejudice tho accused? Mr Salter said that statements made by a person in authority would be believed by tho public. Tho Magistrate (to Senior-Sergeant Mathieson): Got these- girls from their homes; and we will take their evidence at 5 p.m. That disposes of Mr Salter's objection.

Tho Court was adjourned till 5 p.rn

When the Court resumed, Mr Salter said that after consultation, accused had agreed to bo dealt with summarily. Ho wished to apply for a. romand and bail.

Tho Magistrate said ho must know the loading facts before ho could decide the question of bail.

Tho eldest of the girls was then called, but the polico stated that they bnd l^er. , unable to find her, as she had left Tor her home.

Mr Salter eaid that tho statements which wero not made on oath might prejudice-' his client if made public. The police statements were only made on hearsay. The Magistrate said he could not decide tho question of bail without knowing tho leading facts. It could not be prejudicial to the accused;

Sub-Inspector Hastio stated that the facts wero briefly that, at about 1030 that morning, three voiim: girls went into the Gardens, and started sketching on tho river bank near ihe footbridge- leading to tho Acclimatisation Society's grounds. Alter some time accused crossed the bridge, and the girls heard a whistio from tho direction opposite them. The eldest girl looked, and saw accused exposing lii.s person. Sht» said to her companions. "'Don't look." Accused hid in a hush, when n gardener vras passinp, and then ranw out Rgain aud exposed hjs person onm more. Tho same girl saw 'him, and again told her companions not to look. Another of tho girls asserted that when passing tho accused she wjw his hands covering his person, hut wa* not certain whether an; part of his person was exposed then. They had mace a complaint to Mr Youn~, who went for the police. Tho 'Magistrate: There were, two separate exposures, and the. same girl saw both.

To Mr Walter: Who is thia man ? Jlr Salter: TVell, sir, his name is Maslm. and I J>m wirry to fsay ho is a member of the Methodist ministT, and ira-s attending tho Conf<»ronoe. Ho has a TKsrfectly feasible explanation of his actions.

The Magistrate raid ho would aJlow hail, bnt wwld mako it substantial. Accused would bo remanded till 10.30 a.m. on' Saturday, and bail would be anovrprj, self in £200 and two sureties of £100 each.