POLICEMAN'S MISTAKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22141, 21 June 1935, Page 16

POLICEMAN'S MISTAKE

STORY OF DR. D. M. STUART EARLY DUNEDIN RECALLED Tliero are not many men to whom an arrest by a police constable brings added reputation, but one of these was the Rev. Dr. D. M. Stuart, the first minister pf Knox Church, Dunedin, the 75th anniversary of which will bo celebrated during the coming week-end. The circumstances of his arrest attracted considerable. notice at the time, and were such that they greatly increased the already strong hold on the affections of the people of Otago which the celebrated minister enjoyed. Dr. Stuart was widely known in tho city for his benevolence and his sympathy for those in need, and it was said that there were few wanting assistance, of whatever denomination, who did not find their way to him. One winter's night in Dunedin a policeman 011 his beat saw a man staggering down the street carrying on his shoulders a mattress and a pile of bedding. This was apparently one of those occasions created especially for an alert constable to distinguish himself by the arrest of a thief in the very act of crime. He lost no time in laying his hand upon tho shoulder of the heavilyburdened individual, but his coniidence was somewhat shaken when he discovered that his prisoner was the minister of Knox Church. Tho explanation that followed showed that there had been brought under the iiptico of Dr. Stuart a case of distress in which a family was facing the cold of the winter night without either • mattresses or blankets. Touched by the story of the unfortunate people, the minister had taken tho bedding from his own home, and was hurrying on his errand of mercy when stopped by the constable. It is scarcely necessary to add that the " arrest " was not proceeded with, and that j Dr. Stuart was permitted to continue [ with his load.