THE HOBART CLERICAL LIBEL.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 123, 21 November 1895, Page 2

THE HOBART CLERICAL LIBEL.

REV. MR. TOPHAM'S EVIDENCE. (Our Own Correspondent.) |TKR B.S. MANAPOURI AT THE BLUFF, j

Hobart, 16th November. The clerical libel suit;, in which the Rev. Mr. Topham, of Hobart, sued Bishop Montgomory, olaiming £5000 damages for the cancellation of his license, exoited great interest, and the court was densely crowded. Plaintiff was in the witness-box four hours. His case was that the Biehop had revoked the license without stating reasons for bo doing. In 1893 plaintiff, a clerk in Holy Orders at Goulbnrn, exchanged with the Rev. Mr. Hart, of Tasmania, and after officiating there for nearly 12 months, received a letter from the Bishop asking him to wait upon his Arohdeacon, who stated that a most Berious oharge had been made against him. The substance of the oharge was that he had placed his arm round the waist of the lady organist of his church, aud asked her to accompany him to his bedroom. This oharge Mr. Topham donied. Subsequently Bishop Montgomery revoked pi tin tiff's license, and, under protest, he aooepted two months' salary and gave up tha koy of the parsonage. Bishop Montgomery had admitted that the woman making the accusation had so compromised her position that he doubted whether the charge could be unstained in a court of law, and had therefore oanoelled plaintiff'B license pn goupral grounds. Under cross-examination plaintiff admittod that unpleasant rumours had gained ourrenoy regarding himself and his housekeeper at Goulburn, but they were without foundation. It had always been hia misfortune to come into contact with bad-minded women. A letter was read from the Bishop of Goulburn advising plaiutiff to resign, as his ministrations were not acceptable to some of bis parishioners, as ho was accused of irregularities. A verdict was given for defendant.