THIRTY LETTERS OF "TRUE FRIEND BILL"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1106, 20 April 1911, Page 3

THIRTY LETTERS OF "TRUE FRIEND BILL"

READ IN COURT. WHAT TWO KARORI FOLK ALLEGE. JURY TO DECIDE. Over thirty letters formed tho basis of somewhat astonishing allegations which wore made at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. In this case William James Geddys Hughes, a native of Wales, and said to have como to New Zealand as an assisted immigrant some few years ago, appeared on remand. Ho was charged with having obtained a sum of .£sl 10s. from Elizabeth Blake and John Baptist Blake by means of false pretences. The ■ information alleged that the money had been obtained on divers dates between June 28/1910, and November 11, 1910. Chief Detective Broberg prosecuted, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary ■appeared for the accused. Evidence for tho prosecution was to tho effect that John Baptist Blake, who is 71 years of age, and his wife, Elizabeth Blake, who is 58 years of age, reside at Parkvale Road, Karori, where they keep a small poultry farm. Some four or five years ago they became acquainted- with Hughes, who "was then working at Mr. Bell's farm, Karori. Hughes left his situation a little later, and the Blakes saw nothing of him for about two years, when he called with a friend at their bouse. After that he did not appear again until the beginning of June last. He then called again and informed them in an off-hand manner that in the interim he had been managing a station and had -met a young woman whom he had taken as a life partner. Ho had expectations of receiving money from AValos in August, and was then going to buy a farm. The Letters Begin, About June 2S, 1910, Mrs. Blake received a letter from accused in which Hughes referred to his expected remittance, and also look the opportunity of explaining (in plausible style) that ho was short of ready money—a condition of affairs that prevented himself and his wife from accepting a married couple's situation in the country. Mrs. Blake, wrote a letter in reply, and the upshot was that Hughes paid tho Blakes another visit, and this time secured a loan of £2 10s. He received the money "in a very business-like manner," tendered an acknowledgment, and ■ promised to repay the amount on July 22. • ■ ■ _ A few' days after the receipt of a second .letter by Mrs. Blake, Hughes again called, bringing with him what he said was a deed, that had been sent to him by his mother's solicitors in Wales. He added that it referred to money which was coming to him. He did not permit Mrs. Blake to read the deed. He stated that he could raise money on it, but did not wish, his people to know that he was doing so. He suggested . that witness should hold the document as security, she.to advance him another sum of money. Mrs. Blake replied that she herself was short of money, but, after a consultation with her husband, who was ill in bed she gave accused M. and he promptly asked when he could call for more. He was told to return when Mr. Blake was well enough: to; boabout again. The Situation Thickens. About July 23, a further letter came from accused. In this hs explained that ho had returned from the country on account of his wife having burnt both arms by upsetting a dish of gravy, and, after relating a., few domestic items, worked round to tho question of raising a ,£s.loan for the purpose of getting to tho West Coast to take a position that was offering in a coalmine. He could always earn 9s. Cd. a day in tho coalirnine, and he was "feeling very fit at the time"—so the letter said. In consequence of that letter, Mrs. Blake called ot. Somerset Houseviu AValter Strqot, jani; saw Hughes and his wife, and, alter some' conversation, gave him a further sum of £0,. for which he gave an acknowledgment. About August 1 Hughes sent another letter, to which Mrs. Blake made no reply, but the importunity of the man did not cease. On August 6 still another letter came, asking for .£5. Mr. Blake took tho sum asked for to accused, and received a further acknowledgment, promising to pay in all the. sum of .£ls— this including the amounts borrowed with interest. The letters, however, went on, for, on September "(, another missive came from Hughes, and another £5 was dispatched to him by registered letter. More letters came frclm him on September 15, September 20, and September'.2l,- and, a few days after the date of the last letter, Hughes himself came out on a bicycle to see the' Blakes. and brought with him a letter, which he stated Mrs. Blake would not be able to read, as it wos written in Welsh. He did not remain long, but, during his stay, he crammed into the conversation interesting little items.about his wife's health, his own prospects, documents that his mother, had signed in his favour, documents that Jlr. W. G. Biddell, R.M., was alleged to have signed 'for him. and the annoyance of legal delay?. He did not omit to ask for a further loan of JBS, for which he once more tendered the inevitable acknowledgment and duly received the amount.

The "True Friend" is Suspected. His next request for money caino by letter, this request being for a loan of ,£39 or =£'10 "to buy lurnituro for. a boardingiiouse, which ho was taking over in Broadway Terrace." Mrs. Blake replied stating that she was unable to lend Him any more money. A further letter was not replied to, but once more Hughes appeared in person, his purpose, it was alleged, being to further his application tor the loan. The outcome of the, visit was that Mrs. Blake went to town next day, October 5, diev. - the last of her personal savings (£2B) from the Savings Hank, and took it to accused at 131 Ghuznee Street, where he was then lodging. The boardinghouse venture never took shape, Hughes stating that his wife had "given way to drink." . It was about this stage that the Blakes began to grow suspicious, but Hughes, nothing daunted, continued to firo broadsides of letters at them throughout the months of November and December. In these ho requested money to pay his board, his train fare, etc., and in one of his literary efforts he even upbraided Mrs. Blake for not making him further advances, while on another, occasion he dropped his business-like signature and signed himself "Your true friend, Bill." Detectives Start Out After "Bill." The whole of these letters and other documents were produced in court, and there were over thirty exhibits all told. Subsequently the Blakes called on Mr. Riddell, S.M., and finding that the latter knew nothing of the "true friend Bill," who had now disappeared, took legal proceedings. On March 11 accused wrote from Blenheim, and offered to pay 255: n month towards the debt, but nothing came of this, and the matter was placed in tho hands of the police. Detective Andrews located accused at Nelson, and obtained a lengthy . statement from him. In this he admitted tho receipt of the, money. He also stated that he "had told'lies to get it, but that was not false pretences." After signing tho statement he asked if ho would be likely to get more than twelve months. Ho handed to the detective a couple of documents from ii legal firm in Wales in 1S10!), explaining that ho had a right in a certain property.provided that he was married and had "children living. In his statement accused declared that he was not really married until October Inst. On bring formally charged, llujrhes reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was fixed in the same amounts as previously.