In 1869, the Rev Stewart George Holland was curate of the church of St James in the Suffolk market town of Bury St Edmunds. Only 30, he was an enthusiastic “whirlwind” of a clergyman, maybe too High Church for some, but generally quite popular. He was married with five children.
About ten o'clock one evening, a woman knocked at his door in Churchgate Street with a letter. What is it about, he enquired. "Read it for yourself and see," she told him. He declined and closed the door. The next morning, the same woman was waiting outside the church door. Again, he ignored her. That evening, the sexton brought him the letter which had been left in the vestry.
According to press reports, the 500-word letter was written by Sarah Steele, described as a “woman of the town.” She claimed to know Mr. Holland’s secret – that he had been with another young woman – Annie Farrow - who bore his child. He paid for her confinement and continued to support the infant. Sarah Steele lived in the same notorious “yard” where Annie did, in fact. in the next room. In the letter, she claimed everyone there knew Annie was “the curate’s woman.” To keep her secret, Sarah, a poor and hungry woman, demanded, "Unless I have some recompense, I will not suffer such things to go unknown." One of those she vowed to inform was the vicar, Rev Frank Chapman. Holland took the letter to Chapman and insisted, “I deny the whole of it.”
At the Petty Sessions in Bury, Sarah Steele - described as a "dirty looking woman," was arraigned on a charge of extortion. Rev. Mr. Holland insisted he knew no woman named Annie Farrow until this letter. He had never been in the "yard," in Finsbury Place, nor had he ever been upstairs in Annie’s room. He never gave a little girl 3 sovereigns to go out for some beer and not to tell another soul. Sarah claimed Annie told her she went to the curate's house in Northgate Street when his wife was out. "I have never lived at that address," Rev. Holland swore.
Annie Farrow, a "single woman," was also in court, telling the magistrates, "I do not know Mr. Holland." He never came to her room. She never had relations with him. She had recently given birth to a child. Declining to name the father, she called him "a gentleman who pays her steadily." She never told anyone Mr. Holland was the infant's father.
Under cross-examination, Annie admitted Sarah was her neighbour and they knew each other's business. It was close quarters in the yard. Was it true when Sarah recently asked her "who were you with last night," Annie answered, "that was my curate." Absolutely not, Annie responded. She never described her curate as a married man with children. She never said he was the curate at St. James.' "I am positive I did not." A magistrate intervened. "Have you ever foolishly or improperly joked about a curate coming to you. You had better admit it." Annie admitted that many strange men visited the "yard" and the women used to joke about their curates.
At this point, Rev. Holland asked that the case be withdrawn as his point had been proven. The mayor (George Thompson, esq) was not inclined to agree: "Gentleman ought not be subjected to such disgraceful charges from such an infamous woman." He ordered her sent to the assizes where extortionists faced transportation for life. However, after writing a letter of apology explaining she wrote the letter from her "imperfect conviction and belief," Sarah Steele was given eight months in jail.
Rev. Holland's name had been cleared. He was praised for his bravery. "Many men facing such charges, though innocent, shrink from coming before the public, and make small payments and regret it." At St. James', Mr. Holland received a large testimonial from his congregation. Within the year, he was appointed to the Bury Vicarage of St. John’s.
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