THE church parish clerk was a troubled man but he was to find his salvation through an unlikely source - the local press.

It was with a heavy heart that W Mitchell, accompanied by friends, sought help from Southampton magistrates in 1844 amid fears his reputation was being smeared through idle gossip.

As clerk to St Mary's Church, he had been horrified to hear of a story perpetrated by a member of the congregation that he had been pocketing money.

It began when John Watson, who lived in St Mary's Street, called in the churchwarden as he was passing his shop and told him how he had noticed Mitchell take money from a plate that had been collected following a sermon on behalf an improved lighting fund and put several shillings into his pocket.

"I have heard of a report circulating through the parish, and although all those I have spoken to on the subject have declared their entire disbelief in the matter, there might be many who have no personal knowledge of me, would suppose that no one would be wicked enough to originate such a report if it were unfounded."

E H Hulton, the chairman, said the court could not not provide any redress in the matter.

"But I have known you for many years in your office of clerk and I utterly disbelieve the accusation. All I can ask is whether you had some sort of quarrel with the accuser."

Mitchell confirmed that several years earlier there had been cross words between them but that had blown over and he thought of him as nothing but a good friend.

Another magistrate, Captain Ward, asked if his actions in shifting the money might have been misunderstood.

Mitchell explained he took the plate to his desk, where he had to balance it on his knee while he unlocked a box underneath his seat.

Mitchell suspected putting the key into his pocket might have given a false picture of the what had happened. "There were scarcely any shillings given but sixpences, four penny pieces and coppers."

The third magistrate P C Fail said they could only send for Watson and warn him not to continue his defamation.

The parish priest then arrived and gave his full support to Mitchell.

It was then left to the chairman who said the best answer lay with the reporter covering the story for the Hampshire Advertiser.

"The publication of this case in the newspaper by showing that you courted investigation, would satisfy the public there is no foundation whatsoever to this charge"