TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4330, 13 April 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

A BOLT' FOR LIBERTY. A prisoner named. John Clancy,. who was working ofc the’Point Halswell fortifications, escaped fromi, custody yesterday morning ■ hilt was re-captured after he had speiit about a couple' of hours ar liberty,. At the S.uprenie Court in November, dlapcy .was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour for a serious' assault committed on another man in this city. . As'the outcome of a hotel row, .Glancy knocked the man down with a bottle. He had five months of, his . sentence to serve when he .bolted . yesterday hiorning. Having obtained- an- artilleryman’s uniform, he got away in his change of costume seine time before 10 o’clock. When the alarm was circulated a number of officers of, the law, including two mounted policemen, were sent out in pursuit., Clancy, rwho must have done some fairly fast travelling, was seen to

cross the Queen’s Drive, and he was arrested by Constable Griffiths in Newtown at ’ about half-past 11. The police acted very promptly in the matter, and Constable Griffiths is deserving of praise for the capture which he effected. Clancy was brought before the Magistrate’s Court in .the afternoon, and sen. fenced- to 'six t: month s’ imprisonment with hard labour for breaking gaol. lit view of the temptation to which he was exposed by having an opportunity to secure the artillery uniform, a promise' was" made that if his conduct was good a remission of'bis 1 extra sentence might' be recommended. • ' ■ ■■■' : ■ j ... MEETING .QF SPIRITUALISTS. j ■

.-Quite, a-number of-members of the Wellington Association of Spiritualists met at the New Century Hall last night to welcome Mrs Ada Foye, a minister of the Gospel of Progressive Spiritualists of Denver, United. States, America. Mr.

McLean, who presided, presented the visitor with an address of welcome in a felicitous speech. Mr Jameson expressed his gratification at seeing in their, midst the lady whom they regarded as tneir spiritualistic-mother. Mr Poyuton also spoke. He had read much on the subject, he said, but reading did not carry couviction. He wanted some nroof of the phenomena which Sir William Crookes, Professor Wallace and ethers had accepted. He felt inclined to regard Mrs Foyo us a missionary among the heathen.' If spiritualism was true, it was the greatest revelation ever vouchsafed to people* everywhere \wr<* m practical phenomena, and if Mrs Foye stayed in New Zealand twelve month:;, she could he well employed, for if Rpiritualism vrns \vli«.vi il wfis <*i*iini£ d to he, the sooner people were placed in possession of all the faets eonnee.ed with it-tho better. In thanking the members for their .cordial reception, Mrs Foye mentioned iTow pleasing had been her first impressions of this favoured land. If mei; and women would only listen to the warning voices that csiua to them they would live much happier lives. She -spoke most impressively in conclusion of her own mission and its obligations. The speech-making was interspersed With songs by members, and refreshments, were served at the close of a pleasant evening.