The Satr. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1899. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6593, 18 September 1899, Page 2

The Satr. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1899. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

CLERICAL SCANDAL. i ■ . ". . ' THE VICAR AND THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, A BLAMELESS KISS. [From Our London Correspondent J Thp familiar story of tlie susceptible Vicar and the alluring Sunday school teacher, .which, has so often been sadly related in Courts of law, is this week again before the public. The plaintiff on the present occasion is the Rev Hamilton Y T oung, Vicar of Alne, and ho brings an action for libal against his father-in-law, Mr Kershaw, for 'accusing him of improper relations with Miss Burton, of Alne, one of his school teachers. Tlie letter specifically charged the plaintiff with misconduct with the lady on the occasion of a dance at th© village school in February, 1897. This intercourse, it was alleged, was continued from time to time clown to July of last year, in which month Mr Young, on the pretence of going to London, visited Brussels', and stayed several days at a hcuse where Miss Burton -was also staying. The faefs as to the Brussels virifc were discovered in September, and plaintiff's wife, who is Mr Kershaw's (the defendant) only daughter, left her husband and returned to her father. Plaintiff denied in toto the incriminating statements in the letter, though admitting the' Brussels visit and the occupation of apartments in the samo house an Miss Burton. He also admitted having blamelessly kissed the young lady when her brother was going to Klondyke and the latter asked him (Mr Yoiing) -to- look after his sister. Plaintiff also stated that he. and his wife had been unhappy together, owing to her refusal to give up the acquaintance of a man named Thomas John Miutoft, also of Alne. He had sworn at his wife because of this matter. His' father-in-law (Mr Kershaw) purchased the advowson of Alne, and procured plaintiff's presentation to the living. Evidence for the plaintiff showed that Miss Burton was seldom at the vicarage, and that on the occasion when Mr Young and Miss Burton stayed in the same house in Brussels, there was no opportunity for misconduct. They slept in adjoining bedrooms, and there was no door of communication without going on tlie landing. The ease for the plaintiff being concluded, Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., then addressed the jury for the defence. He said that the advowron of the living of Alne was purchased by Mr Kershaw, father of plaintiff's wife, and he -hoped they would be able to live happily there. Accusations had beon made by the plaintiff with reference to his wife's relations with a Mi* ■ Miutoft. churchwarden of his parish, but such suggestions were not made until in November, 1898, he was called upon to take such steps as would be somo atonement for the matrimonial offence of which he had been accused. The conduct of the plaintiff was extraordinary when the charge -was made. Surely if , . a man had been able to meet the accusations with a distinct contradiction,.' he would have bw?n most vigorous. in. his efforts to clear up the matter,'bUt this, mini took no steps a)b all. Young, who is thirty-two years of ace, and of 'ladylike appearance, spoke, of the 'occasion wben she entered the study at the vicarage hurriedly, and found Miss Burton in a wicker chair before the fire and Mr Young kneeling before her. When she entered, they were both, confused/ and her husband turned his back, but had not time to pet on his feet. She afterwards accused him of misconduct, and he was angry and liaed bad language to her. Before that,. she ir*d strong suspicions 'as■ to his conduct. Miss Burton continued to teach in the Sunday school, but she (Mrs Young) never spoko to her again. Her hnsband subsequently

told her he had made -an accusation against hei*, but did not believe it. The jury, after deliberating for an hour and a half, found a verdict for plaintiff, and awarded Mr Young £100 and Miss Burton £1000 damages.