CHURCH AND PROSECUTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1933, Page 8

CHURCH AND PROSECUTION

OFFICIAL FOR TRIAL. LONDON, November 23.’Williain Henry Blackman, formerly probation officer at Brighton Police Court, was charged there yesterday with fraudulently converting £57, the moneys of the vicar and wardens of St. Matthias Church, Brighton, to his own use.

Mr Owen, prosecuting, said that Blackman was apparently a keen church worker, and at the beginning of the year became treasurer and honorary secretary of the magazine fund. The vicar would produce a statement signed by Blackman in which he agree' 1 ' as to the deficiency, and said that he would repay the money by the end of the year. When seen by the police Blackman said: “I have been driven to it. I | have been trying io get the money, hut I have had a lot of trouble. 1 knew I did not. have to show a balancesheet before the end of the year, and that I should be able to repay the money then.” The Rev. L. F. Taylor-Milton, the vicar, asked the magistrates to instruct the 'Tress not to report the case, but the chairman reminded him that it was an open court. Cross-examined, Mr Taylor-Milton said that Im did' not lay information; it was demanded of him by the poPce. Captain A. W. Austen, churchwarden, said that the Parochial Church Council were not. prosecuting, and did not wish to.

Mr Owen: fl. is ilm usual type of thing whore a. churchman is concerned. that Ihe church do everything to hush it up. Mr Bosley (defending): I strongly protest against the statement. It is deliberately untrue. The Church Council has done nothing to hush it up. Blackman was committed for trial, bail being allowed.