CLERICAL COMEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 105, 7 May 1907, Page 7

CLERICAL COMEDY.

2s ::\v VuKi;, March l'-5. No.\v York > v.. muusoil to-*ln.> over ;! police rnnrt episode in which ;iu ;isi-cric-l()'youiiK rU'rio'iimn, tiu- Jis'v. aj.pi-;«r.Ml in tlu> unusual »•!>•.meter of prisom-r, • •liavgi-;! with ;i»*~* a cnnMahle in the exi'f.uiioi! '>' s '^ ur . v - Tvle.ars is assist.rir-ivctor at St. Ma.t----l how's, ;•!. fasionalilv Protestant copal eiiTirc'. in.Vw.-t Eight*-iomth-stre.et. Ho at-tvactfi 1 . th" j'rtcuticm of a detective late last entering <i house iu a I v <;v.arter iu rl:e eoinpany of a negress. A (ietecthe iollowt:d the eon pie. A few minutes later, heaving the clergyman protest that Ills companion was attempting to roll liim, the, defective burst into the room. The ciergynitrii immediately took to his heels, raced downstairs, forced open the front door, and ran into the arms of another detective, whose nose ho punched and whose face he disfigured. The assistantrector, in fact, gave a magnificent display of pugilistic skill. 1* inally lie was arrested and lodged in a. police cell. He explained to the magistrate today that he was engaged in a pulpit campaign against the depravity of New York. In his anxiety to gain fresh material for his sermons he decided to study the problems iu question at first hand. While engaged in the work of research, however, the conviction overcame him that he was in a den of murderers. He saw a panel in the wall moved aside aud the face of a negro appear. A moment later the detective burst- in. Convinced that lie was a criminal, the clergyman struck him a\td fled from the house. His exit, however, was barred by another man, the second detective, whom lie likewise took for a robber. "I couldn't imagine," the clergyman simply explained, ''that- any policeman would respond to my cry for help so soon, so I defended myself. '' The magistrate gave full credence to Mr Mears' assurance that it was his intention to report them forthwith to the police. Iu this conviction lie. granted honourable acquittal to the young clergyman whose sociological zeal developed so curious a comedy of errors. Mr Hears marched out of court accompanied by his young and attractive wife, who, it is understood, is deeply interested in the work of social reform.