STIFFKEY RECTOR’S DEFENCE

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 23 May 1932, Page 5

STIFFKEY RECTOR’S DEFENCE

DENIAL OF CHARGES. SEVEN HOURS IN BOX. < Unite-;! Press Association —U/ Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, May 21. The Rev. Harold Davidson, rector of ■StifEkey, giving evidence in defence against charges of immorality in the Consistory Court, referred to a motor trip to StifEkey with Mr and Mrs Osborne. He said the fourth member of the party was a New Zealand clergyman’s daughter, aged about 28, who came to London- with a reputation as an actress. She ivas- then playing a juvenile lead at the Regent Theatre. He knew her father, said the rector. She was now a Catholic nun. When _he heard she was contemplating conversion he lent her a book opposing that course, and introduced her to tho Bishop o± Norwich, hoping lie would dissuade her. The rector denied placing his arm around the girl’s waist in the car, or ■that there was undue familiarity. He denied allegations concerning girls m tea shops. Replying to tho chancellor’s question regarding tho introduction, Davidson retorted, “If you are going to make these girls outcasts you will never raise them. The Church’s great failure is that its icebergs . draw their skirts away from such girls.” Thus far Davidson has been seven hours in the witness box, and the examination is still incomplete.