A STRANGE FANATIC.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IX, Issue 2840, 2 March 1885, Page 4

A STRANGE FANATIC.

At the Guildhall the other day,before Alderman Sir Thomas Gabriel, Herbert Percy Freund (who has been repeatedly convicttd, and sent to a lunatic asylum for disturbing the congregation at at. Paul's Cathedral, and for causing an obstruction by preaching "Doom of London ) wa. brought up on a charge of obstruction in front of the Royal Exchange. A police constable deposed that he saw a crowd In front of the Royal Exchange. He went to see the cause. The prisoner was m the midst of calling out, "The time is come for the salvation of all mankind. He repeated this three times J™new "to"* him to go away. He replied "No; lam a servant of the Lord, and have come to preach his Gospel." Witness then took him in custody. Sir Thomas : Have yon any question to askf -= Prisoner : No, air ; those are the words I used. Sir Thomas: How' many people were round tha prisoner ? Police-con3table Martin : About 200, sir. , Prisoner: It being the day before Christmas, I felt it to be my duty to preach the salvation of all mankind. Sir Thomas : I have had you before me on several occasions. You gave me your word that yon would not repeat this offence. I spoke to you at soma length in the asylum, and I had you discharged, because if you were the subject for any place it was the gaol, certainly not an asylum. You told me you would not repeat this. However, you must understand that you will not be permitted to cause an obstruction in this manner. Why do you porsist in causing these obstructions ? Prisoner : Because I have the welfare of my fellow-men at heart. _ There were few people in the street at this time. Sir Thomas : Do you promise not to do this kind of thing again ? The prisoner made no answer. Sir Thomas : Well, if you hesitate, I have but two alternatives, and I shall send yon to gaol. Prisoner : I hope you will not do that at Christmas time. - Sir Thomas: Unlesß you make the promise I shall send you to prison. ' Prisoner: I hope not; I was only preaching. Sir Thomas : Well, if every man with such convictions as you have preached at the corner of half a dozen streets, what condition should we be In in the city 1 Prisoner: There is no one else but me. Sir Thomas : No; they are too sensible. If you wish to ventilate your opinions, you must get a place of yonr own. That would be perfectly legitimate. Prisoner : I hope you will not send me to prison. Sir Thomas: Well, I will give you one more chance ; but if you are brought before me again on such a charge—whether it is Christmas time or not— I "shall send yon to gaol. You will not get off again. Freund was then discharged.