THE CLAMPETT-SULLIVAN FRAUD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1971, 19 November 1889, Page 4

THE CLAMPETT-SULLIVAN FRAUD.

Snllivan-cum-S.'iiiitly Clampett was a passenger by the Zjalandia mail steamer from Auckland for ’Frisco on Nov. 4th. His name appears as Saintly on the passenger list. As the converted aihDte stood on the deck of the steamer he was the subject of some badinage from a goodhumoured crowd on the Queen street wharf. Ho was asked by one of the newspaper vendors if he would have a War Cry. He retorted that ho was dead oft War Crys now j that the Sportsman was more io his line. Being asked if he was not g'od to get out of the country after the bad quarters of an hour be had lately experienced, he said he wou’d never speak ill of New Zealand in America. The colony had done grandly by him, but he expressed a hope that when a smart man came along the religious public would look afier him—« sally which elicited much laughter, One candid friend cried out that his New Zealand doings hud been forwarded to the Sun Francisco Chronicle,

and would appear on his arrival. Sullivan replied “That’s all right.” He hud been flying around during the last few days in a carriage and pair, patronising various hotels. Ho presented a draft for £4OO at the bank—part of the proceeds of his Southern tour—but the authorities required his idenlificitioo. The Rav. J. Smith, Primitive Methodist minister, who first introduced Sullmn-cum-Clampett as the converted athlete to the Auck-

land public, was sent for, but the rev. gentleman was “ full up,” and decclioed the doubtful honour, being rather mixed up as to whore Sul ivaa ended and (llampetl begun. The d fficulty was subsequently overcome by another old patron coining forward to identify him. Sullivan-Clnrnpett made himself very conspicuous the previous evening on the wharf by driving down in an open carriage to assist at the reception of the Irish delegates.

He drove up after the delegatee and reception committee to the Star Hotel, where he mingled wiih those who were welcoming the delegates. He shook hands warmly with each of them, and his deep-resouadiag baritone voice could be heard above the hum shouting “ Long may you live, and God bless you.” He had for days evaded the reporters, but they at last ran him to earth, and in conversation with them he admitted that ho was

Arthur Clampett, of Waterford; and a member of the permanent force at the North Head batteries, who knew him in Ireland, coiroborates this statement. He state* that ho realised by his lour £IOOO, but never wont on “ the religious racket,” as he phrased it, lilt he was atone broke, and has no intention of doing so again. The money he received was nearly all private cheques from weak-minded ladies, many of them matrons, and he never refused them. There was not a men’s cheque among them. He had several offers of marriage on this tour, but he did not accept them. His game was not marriage, but money. He had been in correspondence with an exceedingly fine girl in New York for soma years. He knew her when he was a professorof physical training in a college there, and hoped to join her in marriage bonds when he returned. He liked New Zealand, and he liked the people, but there was a religious tone in the country that if a man was very clever and very careful be could just fool them all, but the mornant he made a break he was done. Clampelt gave a graphic account of how he fooled the Southern public and “struck oil” when preaching to women. As ho exp’ained it: “I had the pbraseolegical powers, and their little hearts . wents out to me. Whenever 1 took to drink, however, 1 knew it was all over with me, and 1 gave the game up.” As to his present religious creed, he put it shortly thus:—l am a Catholic—Roman Catholic, mind —1 believe in the Catholic Church j I’ll die a Roman Catholic. It was only a take down for the Dissenters to take them in, and I now intend to terminate my existence in the church I was brought up in. When I arrive at San Francisco 1 am going to confession there, I inland to confess everything to Father Ryan, and I hope to be spared till I get there, otherwise I’ll never see Heaven.” On being asked what he would do were the priest to refus* to have anything to do with him, he replied that in that case he could not help it. He admitted he had been a companion of Whistler, Mitchell, Sullivan, and other prize fighters. He came to the colony five years ago to ho engaged to Dion Boucicault, bat got on the spree ani was not engaged. Being down on his luck in Sydney he got a free passage to Auckland about 10 months ago ; started singing on the Thames, but with no success, and thereupon went in for religion. Ho now intends training bis voice in America. The account of the interview with Sullivan is very spicy. In his concluding remarks he said : “I am going to San Francisco by mail steamer to-day. 1 have two or three lines in which I may embark, but I don’t intend to go into Gospel work again. I will not trifle with the Gospel any more, and 1 hope my old friends will pray for me, because I am not converted. I am going on a singing tour in America.” The reporter asked ; “ You became tired of playing the religious fraud I suppose 1” Clampett: Yea ; 1 was a fraud—a big fraud, and I am heartily tired of it. I can now finally say that only for the law of the country I would have kaocked the clergy who ware antagonistic to ms into a “cocked hat.” I did not want a month in gaol, so that bit of pleasure had to bo postponed. I wish also to thank the lawyers and judges that they did not get hold of me. [lt is evident that Clampett has not done playing the fraud yet.]