POLICE CASE OPENS AGAINST REV. TAYLOR

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6666, 20 July 1928, Page 7

POLICE CASE OPENS AGAINST REV. TAYLOR

Per Press Association. . ’WELLINGTON, Last Night The case for the police was Openei, to-day in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr. E. Page, S.M., against the Rev. Thomas Feilden Taylor, who appeared to answer eleven charges of indecent assault fon males whose ages varied from fourteen to sixteen years. The offences were alleged to have been committed -between June 24, 1927, and April 27, 1928. ; ' Mr. P. S. W. Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, appearcil/for the, police and Mr A. Gray: K.C., with Mm Mr. D. W. Virtue, .for accused- The Court was cleared. Mr. Macassey did not address the Court but immediately called evidence. The first witness was a fifteen-year-old boy who said ho was warned by accused of the danger of committing a certain act and requested him to cease doing it. Accused, he said, had always been kind to him. Tho next witness, aged 16, said that certain improper actions took place between him and accused almost every time witness went to accused’s house. Under cross-examination witness admitted losing several jobs for stealing. Witness admitted accused urged him to give up committing the acts but added that tho mutual practices continued daily. He consented to them because being on/probation ho was afraid he would get into a row if he did not consent. Witness first /mentioned the matter to his father. Albert Bullivant, an officer in the Child Welfare Department, said that so far as he knew those boys who went to accused were looked after in a satisfactory manner. To Mr. Gray witness said accused .was a unique personality with methods of his own. His methods were unorthodox but he had the confidence of the boys. As far as witness knew accused had a beneficial influence on the boys. Another boy, an orphan aged 17, saiK accused had given him a lecture on sexual matters, had examined his heart and body, and had felt him pulse. Witness did not protest as he was led to understand it was for his own good. To Mr. Gray witness said accused was very good to him and said ho would still do anything for accused. Dr. J. S. Elliott gave evidence that such examination as that said to have been given by accused could not be of much value.

At this stage Mr. Virtue collapsed and had to bo taken out into the air where ho quickly revived and returned to the Court. The case will he continued to-morrow.