CHUISTCHURCH SENSATION

North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13235, 5 March 1915, Page 5

CHUISTCHURCH SENSATION

A PARSON IN TROUBLE.

Per Tress Association,

CnitISTCIIIJRCII, March-L A sensation was caused in the city to-day when it became known that a Methodist minister had been arrested on a charge of wilfully exposing himself in the public gardens. To the police llicmausaidthntbcwastholicv. William George Masliu, of l%lou, ami that he was in Christcliurch to attend the sittings of the Methodist Conference. Maslin was brought before life Magistrate's Court this afternoon and elected to be dealt with summarily. Remand and bail were applied for. Sub-Inspector llnstie said (he circumstances, briellv, were that at about HUO a.m. three young girls left the School ol Art,'and went into the public gardens near bv and started sketching on the river bank, near the bridge leading to the Acclimatisation Grounds. Accused crossed the bridge, ami the girls heard a whistle from the direction opposite 'them. The, eldest girl looked, and saw accused exposing himself. Slii\said to her-companions, "'.Don't look." Accused hid in the bush when a gardener fvas passing, and 'then caihe out again and exposed himself once more. ■' The Magistrate: Who is this man?. " Counsel for accused: His name is Maslin, and I am sorry to say he is a member of the Methodist ministry-and was attending the Conference, lie has a perfectly feasible explanation of his actions. ' .The Magistrate said he would allow bail, but he would make it substantial. Accused was-remanded till Saturday morning, bail being allowed-self in .WOO, and two sureties of £IOO each.