A SCRUPULOUS WITNESS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3848, 16 November 1883, Page 4

A SCRUPULOUS WITNESS.

A girl about seventeen years of ago, called as chief Avitncss in a case heard at Nottingham Police Court, having examined tho Bible placed in her hands, said: — " Gentlemen, this book belongs to tho Church of England, I presume?" Magistrate : Yes. 'Witness : Then I decline to take my oath upon this book. Magistrate : AVhy? Aro you an atheist? Witness: Indeed, gentlemen, lam no atheist; lam a Roman Catholic. I shall decline to take tho oath upon that book. Magistrate: AVhy, that Bible contains the Gospels and Epistles approved and appointed to bo read in all the churches and chapels in England. Witness : Gentlemen, in all your churches and chapels, but not in mine. The Magistrate : What Bible will you take your oath on? Witness: On a Roman Catholic Douay Bible Unless I have ono I Avill not take my oath on any other. Tho Avitnoss thou left the hall for a quarter of an hour, Avhen she was again called in, and still objected to take the oath upon the book. Magistrate: I havo never heard such an objection, only by a Presbyterian, who claims his form of affirmation. AVitucss : Then I, as a Roman Catholic, claim to affirm. Magistrate : AVhafc form of affirmation Avill you give that Avhat you say is true ? AVitnoss :' I Avill affirm that what I say is true by the sign of tho Cross, in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Magistrate: Then hold the Bible in your hand ancl make tho sign of the Cross. AVitnoss: Gentlemen, I Avill not hold that book as a Catholic. _ I set no value on that version of tho Bible. It would not bind me, I must havo my oavii true Bible, or I Avill not take the oath. I will not kiss any other book. Tho AlagiBtrato then adjourned tho case so that a proper Bible might bo obtained from the Roman Catholic "Bishop.