THREAT OR JOKE?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1708, 27 March 1913, Page 6

THREAT OR JOKE?

LETTER TO MR. M. J, REARDON,

TAKEN TO COURT. ■ . ■ \ / LAWYERS MAKE PLAY OVER IT. FATE OF CAESAR & LINCOLN. ;. 'A very unusual cose' was heard , in the Magistrate's Court- yesterday, when "Walter Litchfield, an elderly farmer residing at Manaroa, Pelorus 1 Sound, was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial on the following charge:—On Or about February 10, 1913, he caused . to be received by Michael John Eeardon, Wellington, a let- . ter containing threats to Kill Eeardon. . : Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., was on the Bcncli.' Chiof-Detectivo Broberg -.'.prosecuted,, and Mr. .J. Barton ' appeared for Litchfield; Eeardon is secretary of /the New-Zealand- Slaughtermen's Union. ?

M. J. Eeardon was tho'first Witness .called. . He stated that on February ,10 ' le returned to Wellington from! Gisbomo , and.rcceivcd the ;let.ter in question.-, Ho : opened it - on. his way to a meeting 1 at . Petone that evening. ~ He was then away at Patea a lew days,, but on his return he handed tho letter to tho police. The Text of the Letter. Mr. It. J. Eeardon, . • Wellington. If you want to keep your job you had better settle tiiia strike;, quick. ./ My mortgagee is only .'waiting for an v excuse to step in, and if' I can't.'eell . ' my. lambs within ' the next fortnight or three weeks, ho .will get his'chance, and I shall bo ruined.' If that hap- ; -pens it will not matter what happens to. mo after. I don't want .to ...either ruined or''hung, but if I am • through you, I will send you to Hell first, and though .you may luivo a few , ■. weeks start of moi'an'd Hellis "a big place, I'll find you if it. does, take ■ 'most of eternity, to do it. "Then it will' bo Ilell indeed for you, and per- , ' haps both of us, so if you don't want your wife .to be a widow, - settle this strike.at once, or I'll sottle you. ' - Presidents,: lrings, and.emperors some-: . . times die before they are ready, so • don't cry -if you a sudden end ' , on yourself. . Mr. Bartoil': When you read the letter, did it seriously impart.a threat.to.you?'' "Witness:; Yes: ,

Did .it .not appear to, you" as a burlesque on the extravagant language sometimes.used in industrial disputes!'—"No." ■ ! And the reference to kings/ presidents, anil emperors--didn't that suggest a grim kind of joke? You didn't take that seri-, ously.?—"l didn't : tako much. notice ,of that. I:, regarded it as an .effort.-to/ be. effensive."- 1 1 ' "Strike Promoter, Etc., Etc.'? . How was the envelope addressed? / ~ "His Imperial "Majesty, . ' ■--'../ "11. J. Keardon, . '■Tzar of AH the Now Zealands, ' , "Strike Promoter; etc., etc., : Wellington or ElseSyhere." . /' And did that'suggest a joke ..to you?— "Tho envelope did. . . , I'ho threat was 'what 1 took seriously." -.; - ,' - Surely, you didn't think: ".Cue&t ■ Was stabbed, Lincoln was slhot, and now I am threatened!" ..-- . ' .. Jjouis Griffiths, auctioneer,- . Picton, .testified that' ho was a trustee in;,an estate which held a mortgage over Litchfield's sheep., Mr. Barton: Were you and your cotrustee waiting for an opportunity to :t>tcp .in and seizo-Litchfield's sheep? Witness:/ No. . - Is Litcfhfield in arrears in. connection with any mortgage to you?—"No; itis due in September, and-is paid up- to .date." . . - ■ / ' -Would you take ; the words in the letteV, "my mortgagee is waiting to step in" to fit Litchfield's ease?—"No; the inoi?tgagee'was not waiting to step in." ;. . Can you think of i\ny other farmer in the -district—there is no need ! to name anyone—who might be in that position ?— ."ires;'"* ' ' -v

, Two Letters: Question of Hand-writing. Constable King, of Picton, produced a letter.: signed "\V. Litchlicld," which he said had been received by i him, , urging hilii to havQ a prohibition order issued ■ against another man. ; . .' . Detective. Lewis deposed'• that he saw Litchficld'.at the Trocadero .Hotel, Wellington, and showed him. thb letfer to • ...which Constable King fin his ividenco re- . . fcrred. , 'Witness asked Litchfield if he had written, tho letter. Litchfield examined it, and said that he had written it. Witness/then showed him the letter to ~r lieardon, and'asked him if ho had written that. 1 Litchfield replied: "X must re:.j fuse to answer any questions." • Witness was present when Detective Andrews served the summons on' Litchfield. Litchfield then remarked: "I don't intend to appear. He can't get any money,out of •inc. I expect. that is what 'he is trying to do. It will have to go by default. I don't know lieardon. I have aiever' seen , liim." . Witness . pointed out to Litchfield that the'matter was a criminal pro- , secution, • and , that, therefore, Litchnu would have to appear., v , . Alexander Forrest stated that ho had ■ becii«iri the servjee of the' Bank of New y/ealaud-i'or thirty years, and had expert knowledge of hand-writing. He had ex amined tho two letters, and would sa. . that they had been written by ono person'.

"The Letter Was a Burlesque." : Addressing the Court, Mr.. Barton said that tho language' in the letter did not constitute.a threat such as was contem- . plated by tho statute. The letter was a ..burlesque on extravagant language. Litchfield ,bad simply out-Heroded Herod, > or gone, one better than those who used extravagant,' language in industrial disputes. as part of ,tlieh\ stock-in-trade. That contention was strengthened by the address on the envelope. There was no , direct evidence connecting the defendant with, the. writing of the hitter'. His attituro during the.interview with Detective Lewis was quite consistent with that of a ■person trying to shield someone else. Mr. Barton submitted, therefore,' thnt'a prima iacio case had nut been made out. . His held that a prima facio case had been mado out. ■ 4 Litchfield then pleaded not guilty, and ho was committed to the Supremo Court , 'or trial. - .