DOCTOR RODGERS ARRESTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6965, 14 March 1884, Page 5

DOCTOR RODGERS ARRESTED.

A youxe man who has got some notoriety in the rural district as " Doctor Rodgers," and who possesses the alias of Cecil Johnston, was arrested yesterday by Detective Hughes, at the New Zealand timber mill, on a charge of stealing a case of surgical instruments, the property of the Auckland Company, from Mercury Bay. Prisoner has been " wanted" for some time past. To begin at the beginning, Rodgers came out from home some time ago in the ship Warwick, and gave himself out as a medical student, who had also studied for the church. Se preached on board ship on the passage out, but some passenger of a literary turn of mind turned up one of the discourses in the Quiver. The third officer of the . ship, Mr. Pollock, had letters of introduction to the Bishop and the principal residents. Possessing himself of these, he is alleged to have succeeded in passing himself off ae Pollock, being cordially received at the homes. His luggage carried about the country had painted upon it the word " Bishopscourt " as address, and thus palmed himself off as the guest of the Bishop. He always managed to remove from any place befere the news had arrived of his imposture. At one place he attended a child, and gave an expression on the death of the child, which opinion did duty for a certificate. Rodgers disappeared for some time, and afterwards attempted in Waikato to join the Wesleyan body, and went over to Kawhia, where his escapades brought him into trouble. The visiting cards found upon him are inscribed "Dr. G. \V. Rodgers." It is alleged that he received fees at Mercury Bay, where he practised, and delivered a woman. Rodgers reappeared at the Sailors* Rest next, and made the acquaintance of Mr. Fell's sons. On Wednesday evening, two young men from the Sailors' Rest, introduced Rodgers to the Rev. Mr. Tebbs, of St. Matthew's, as a medical student. It so happened that one of the members of the church choir was a fellow-passenger of Rodgers by the Warwick, and at once recognised him, and disclosed to Mr. Tebbs some particulars concerning Rodgers, which put that gentleman on his guard, and in due course led to hiß arrest, as above stated.