He Was Not An Iceberg

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6865, 23 May 1932, Page 6

He Was Not An Iceberg

STIFFKEY’S VICAR SEVEN HOURS IN WITNESS BOX United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Sunday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, May 22. Rev. Davidson, who is on trial for alleged immoral conduct, referring to a motor trip to Stiffkey with Mr. and Mrs. Osborne, gave evidence that 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 was then playing juvenile lead at the Regent theatre. Ho knew her father. She was now a Catholic nun.

When Davidson heard she -was contemplating conversion ho lent her a book opposing the course and introduced her to tho Bishop of Norwich, hoping that he would dissuade her. Davidson denied placing his arm around her waist in tho car or that there was any undue familiarity. He also denied tho allegations concerning girls in teashops and, rcplving to the Chancellor’s question regarding his introduction to them, 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 his examination is incomplete.