RECTOR AND GIRL

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1932, Page 6

RECTOR AND GIRL

Davidson Case SORDID PUBLICITY. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, March 30. 'lhe Rector Davidson case continues to be the sensation of the hour. Barbara Harris, a pretty petite girl, was five hours under cross-examina-tion by counsel for the defence. Throughout a day-long duel, the girl faced the Court with the calm confidence and self-possession of a woman twice her years, answering a flood of questions, many relating to sordid dcta Is of her life, without demur. Mr Cohen (counsel for Davidson) suggested that the Rector’s association was due to a desire to take her from undesirable surroundings. Barbara, denied this. She admitted he had once helped her to g(‘f employment. She once gave the Rector a black eye, because he locked her in a room and would not let her out. She added that Davidson always told her she looked like the film actress, Greta Garbo, but &he had no desire to be a film star, a s she was afraid to face the camera.

Counsel plied questions regacjling her relations with a professional strong man, who sometimes earned 60/daily by means of street performances. Barbara explained that the strong man was friendly, but she did not like him. “When he threatened to smash my face in, the Rector, though a small man. put on a clerical collar, and went for him, telling the strong man he was her uncle.”

During the cross-examination, the Chancellor hearing the case, said he had come to th” conclusion that “Harris was the sort of girl who. if she can get anything out. of anybody, she docs.”

Counsel representing the Bishop of Norwich: “Yes, and if she cannot, •she starves.”