AN ENGLISH SCANDAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 8

AN ENGLISH SCANDAL

MINISTER’S GIRL FRIEND AGREED PAYMENTS IN LIBEL CASE The libel action at Northamptonshire Assizes arising out of the friendship of a minister with a young member of his congregation was settled recently.

Afr William Arnold, shoe manufacturer, of FairlaWu, Cliftonville. Northampton, the principal dcfenidiant, agreed to pay the plaintiffs, the Rev. John James Reeves, a Northampton Primitive Alcthodist minister, and i Alias Emily Baxter, of Far Cotton, Northampton, £5OO and £250 respectively, with costs. The action against Air Joseph Tebbutt, printer, was included in the settlement.. The alleged libel was contained in a letter written by Air Arnold to the Rev. C. L. Tudor, another Northampton Primitive Alcthodist minister, and a circular printed by Air Tebbutt and circulated by Air Arnold in 'which it was alleged that Air Reeves had been seen kissing Aliss Baxter. “The scandal,” the letter stated, “is the talk of the town. Even the chief constable and all his officers know about it.” Air Reeves is 50 and Aiiss Baxter 22. The case was heard before Air Justice Sankey and a special jury. The Funeral Kiss. Before the settlement was reached Air Reeves continued his evidence. Asked by Air Cope Alorgan (for Aliss Baxter) what was the nature of his relationship with Aliss Baxter, Air Reeves said he walked with her towards Ear Cotton when he was going for his fortnightly service there. He never, in the ordinary sense of the word, saw the girl home. She visited his house, coming to meals with his wife and daughter. She never came when his wife was not at home. Except once, when he went to the tram-way-car with her at Afrs Reeves’ suggestion, he had never been with her as late as ten o’clock. He was not absent from the house ten minutes. Air Reeves explained the incident j which occurred at a funeral when he I kissed Aliss Baxter, then a young girl. She broke down and was very distressed, so he kissed her on the forehead to comfort her. She was very frail and inclined to be depressed and had never had a day of health. It was stated in the particulars of justification that Air Reeves was alone with the girl in Aliss Baxter’s house for an hour and a half. Air Reeves said the visit was on Good Friday, 1926, when the girl had been seriously ill. The mother and father and sister were at home and he was not in the house more thau two minutes. He had never visited her when she was alone. Air Cope Alorgan then took Air Reeves through the letter written by Air Arnold to the Rev. C. L. Tudor, in which he said that Air Reeves and. Aliss Baxter had been seen in the resort of courtesans and made other allegations. These Alr Reeves denied, and said that, with Mr Tudor he went to sec Air Arnold. He then denied the report, and Air Tudor interjected: “It’s an untruth, Air Arnold.” Air Arnold said nothing further. The Withdrawal. The luncheon interval was extended by 59 minutes to allow of a consultation between the parties, and on their return to court Air J. B. Melville, K.C., for Air Reeves, announced that Air Arnold wished to express his regret for the words complained of and to withdraw all imputations upon cither of the plaintiffs. Air Reeves was satisfied that in what he said Alr Arnold was actuated only by a high sense of duty.

Air Justice Sankey expressed his satisfaction with the decision arrived at.