A VICAR STEALING FLOWERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6823, 29 September 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

A VICAR STEALING FLOWERS.

■A'; clergyman'-stole sorae flowers from th-i ■■■Henley Borough Cemetery and a summons ■served on.him"-only, brought a letter, stating .to :.the magistrates that he was unable to :.appear, owing to a bad cold. The magistrates ; however, were not nd sent an officer af.ier the defendant, the Rev. Robert Topliam, M : :A : .i,Yicar of Etruvia, but the officer failed tO'briart.him in. He stated that when he : reacb'sd.the vicarage he. wno informed by the .ser?a : iit,oi.llie ilev t ,.Xo:'ham that her master juntas.iu the.gsrden and consequently not at .hoir.e. , , r ; .'!.he magistrates in great indignation .uow.s.en* a, police inspector with a cab after thc,rifub.born;.vica.r, but when he arrived at the place he,was informed that Mr Topham had.gque < tq.b?d.aiil eruldnotand would not come. ~'!, he inspector therefore had bis ride ;for nothing. ..A warrant was then issued, but inorder to spare thu. feelings of the rev. geptlecna'j, he,was informed that the magistrates would hold a.special meeting during the afternoon, to avoid his being locked up all nigbt.; ''■'■■ Defendant was .then arrested and taken, before the Court in custody of a policeniari....' During the hearing of the case he was told, by the.presiding magistrate that h* had been guilty.of several falsehoods, which it was remarked, was a reprehensible example for a clergyman to' set; :. It was also shown that he had,- the. .flowers? for the purpose of [decorating.his. church on the occasion of a childran's: festival..^"He was.fined £5., ■~ ~