AN IMPUDENT IMPOSTOR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12438, 10 April 1908, Page 4

AN IMPUDENT IMPOSTOR.

The evidence adduced at the preliminary trial of the printer and ex-count named Tyler, who was last week sentenced to five years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey for impersonation and officiating as a clergyman and attempting to obtain ordination by forgeries, showed that the prisoner had made most amazing attempts' to hoax the Archbishop of Canterbury and other church dignatories. It was stated that Tyler went to a country church in clerical clothes, helped to conduct services, and preached a sermon. Mr Arthur Gill, who prosecuted for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said Tyle§ had for some time been making the most extraordinary efforts to secure ordination for the purpose of becoming a missionary in the colonies. "In July, 1906," he declared, "the Bey. A. J. Pitkin, curate-in-charge of the parish ox Aldbourne, in Wiltshire, advertised for. a locum-tenens. A reply was received from a person signing himself as the Bey. li W. T. Greenshield, and stating that he was at Home on a holiday from Canada, where he was a missionary. After some correspondence, the applicant arrived, in clerical attire, at Aldbourne on Sunday, August sth, and gave a very full description of himself. He took part in the services, preached a sermon in the evening, and left with a guinea fee and 10s for expenses. As a matter of fact, Mr Greenshield was in Canada at the time, and Tyler personated him. "There will be another, charge," Mr. Gill continued. "In June, 1905, Tyler made an attempt to procure ordination at the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was then -carrying on a printing business at Bridge road, Hammersmith, and was taking part as a layman in church work at St. Mark's Mission Church, Hammersmith. For the purpose of procuring bis ordination he wrote a letter in the name of the Bey- W. G. White, acting commissary to the Bishop of Moosonee and Qu'Appelle, recommending Mr Tyler as a suitable person for ordination. It appeared that Tyler wished to bo ordained for the colonies generally, and after some demur the Archbishop was willing to comply with that desire. Steps were taken to fulfil the necessary legal formalities, but the ordination was eventually postponed because they could not be complied with in time."

The Wellington Chamber of Qommerce intends to solicit the co-operation of Chambers throughout the Dominion m asking the Postmaster-General to take steps towards preventing interference with the existing code privileges by the Lisbon Conference.