THE ASPERSED RECTOR

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18641, 20 May 1932, Page 7

THE ASPERSED RECTOR

DEFENCE OPENED. ADDRESS BY COUNSEL. "A TROUBLESOME JBUSYBODY.” United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received May 20, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. The hearing before the Norwich Consistory Court, of the charges against Rev. Harold F. Davidson, rector of Stiffkey (Norfolk), preferred by the Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Bertram Pollock, with a grave series of acts of misconduct under the Clergy Discipline Act, including constant association with women of loose character, was resumed to-day. Mr Levey (who appeared for the defence) in his opening address, said Mr Davidson deemed it his duty to conduct prevention rather than rescue work among young girls an London. Gwendoline (? Barbara) Harris was only one of a legion he had helped, and she had bitten the hand that fed her. He often gave the girls his bed and walked the streets all night. Admittedly his habit of kissing girls and women on their cheeks and foreheads was stupid and might leave suspicion. He certainly was a troublesome busybody, and he had annoyed the waitress, Miss Dorothy Burns and hundreds of others, but he did not make improper suggestions. The case was adjourned.

Giving evidence against Davidson when the case was before the court in March, Barbara Harris, 161 years old stated that the accused, dressed as a civilian, had associated with her for months before she discovered he was a clergyman. He had posed as' her uncle. There had been much kissing, but no misconduct. The witness was under cross-examination for five hours by counsel for the defence., Mr Norman Birkett, K.C. Throughout the long duel she faced the Court with the calm confidence and self-possession of a woman twice her age, answering a flood of questions, many of them relating to sordid details of her life, without demur. The girl admitted that she was between the ages of 16 and 17 and that she had had considerable experience of men, including an Indian. This was before she met Mr Davidson. When counsel suggested that the rector’s association with her was due to his desire to take her from her undesirable surroundings the girl- denied it. However, she admitted that once he had helped her to secure employment. Witness stated that once she gave the rector a black eye because he locked her in a room and would not let her out. Mr Davidson had always told her she looked like Greta Garbo, but she had no desire to be a film star as she was afraid to face the camera.

Counsel plied the girl with questions about her relations with a professional strong man who sometimes earned £3 a day in street performances. Witness said the strong man was friendly with her, but she did not like him. When the strong man threatened to strike her the rector, although he was a small man, put on his clerical collar and went to see him, telling him he was her uncle. During the cross-examination the chancellor who is hearing the case said he had come to the conclusion that Barbara Harris was the sort of girl who if she could get anything out of anybody, she did so. Counsel representing the Bishop of Norwich: “Yes, and if she cannot she starves.” It was further alleged that Davidson took a woman of loose character for a holiday to Paris. Other evidence was to the effect that he had met girls in their bed-sitting rooms at all hours of the day and night and that he had pestered respectable waitresses in cafes, with the result that he had been barred from one cafe.