CLERGYMAN CHARGED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 75, 30 March 1932, Page 8

CLERGYMAN CHARGED

ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

(Eeceived 30th March, 2 p.m.) . ' LONDON, 29th March. The Eev. Harold Davidson, Eector of Stifrkey, has been charged at the Norwich Consistory Court, at the instance of the Bishop of Norwich, with a grave series of acts of misconduct under the Clergy Discipline Act, including con- • stant association with women of loose character. The rector's defence is that he was engaged in rescue work. • - ■ Great public interest is being takea in the case, which is being heard at the Church House, Westminster.: The newspapers are devoting pages to the evidence. . Mr. Davidson, who is sixty years of age, with a wife and four children, has been bankrupt since 1925, when his stipend of £800 a year was reduced to £400. Counsel stated that the rector habitually neglected his parish, staying in London from Monday to Saturday; A girl of IG£. years ;of age gave evidence that Mr. Davidson,- dressed as a civilian, had associated with her for months before she discovered he was a clergyman. He posed as her uncle. There was much kissing, bat no misconduct. It was further alleged that Davidson, took a woman of loose character for a holiday to Paris. Other evidence was to the effect that Davidson niet girls in. their bed-sitting-rooms at all hours of the day and night and pestered respectable waitresses in-cafes, with the result that he was barred from one' cafe.

The caae is likely to last many days. There are numerous witnesses in attendance.