THE HORSEWHIPPED CLERGYMAN

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 11

THE HORSEWHIPPED CLERGYMAN

' 1 AN' EXCITING "■ENCOUNTER, ■ . -v: A'senfeation was caused at Busselton 'last. night:(says'-a Perth. telegram of April 8 in the "Age'.'), when a middle-aged man: named Pollitt/arrived by the Perth- train armed, mtlr a Jsjiockwhip.' He. announced' publicly that' his in going to Bussolton; was the' Rev. R-S. Needham,\recforUof vSt. Mary's Anglican Church. • Ho stat«d : - that the clergyman _ had brutally wronged his sister, and nothing loss than a public castigation before ' tho , parishioners would'meet .the case. Going to the rectory grounds ;hQ encountered Mr. Needham, and without;'a: , word of explanation' 1 began to bolabour' him with 'the .'whip'.; After a of strokes the clergyman closedwith His;; ; ;'assailant,': and they .• wrestled /together some moments," eventually falling' to the ground locked -in each other's arms. - Tho struggle';,'.was,:..continued' for a 'while, when they-;} separated, the whip having becomo brbk6ri.-iri'the : fight.■ proceeded to abuse the mmistfir,\'and was not fastidious in tho use of dhoicg;?epithets. , Mr. Needham left the rfscforyv .and ' proceeded to a;' ;his yfriends: prevented his'.furtherunolestation, although: Pollitt 'was heard' inviting him .to "come out for more." , • v > When//'seen subsequently Mr. - Needham, BaidohatJ he' was fat ,a ,loss': to understand' tho* actions of the man. "It was true tliat ho. was ongaged. to Pollitt's sister,. and the wremony had been fixed by. hor people to takol; place about the; end of this month: Matters had not, however, proceeded as was espi?ctedj'' : ; and after ,a full and frank discu?sj6hV between himself -and tho lady it \fa£!':mutually agreed that the engagement' should be; broken off. ;As far as tho lady y;as;.concerned there had been no reproach; in fact, lie had her letters, in which it was ho ,had manly,, course, ■ ahd>:Sh'6 , ;honoured him for it. It was uhfortiinate"'that tho,brother had talin it upi ony him self' to; interfere, .'but .now. that the master :liad received publicity he .would wel-como-'ia full investigation.; -v •' . -'It'understood that Poilitt's : grievance is that; lie .considers his sister wasv"jilted"' by.-Mr. . Needham. within a veryjshort.'periodof v tjui ; ,clafe'fixed; for the marriage' ceremony.