THREATS OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 4

THREATS OF MURDER.

TROUBLE IN A MASONIC LODGE (By Telci'TODh-I'rtfji Association,', Auckland, iVbruary 18. Soma of tho insicte troubles of i) Masonic Lodge were. rcvcaind lii the I'olice Court this nioniing, wlien lvd, ward G. liodtm, aged 56, was charged tlmt, oil January "28, lie sent a lottor to Joseph Siiiiley, in which' ho threatened, to Ifili .Arthur Win. Morris, Thomas William Allen, and David H. Sis so lis. Chief Detective M'Mahon stated that Bodeii was a member of tho United Service Masoiiic Lodge. No. 10, and the disappearance from tho - .lodge of tho key ef a locker, some liquor, and n coat, re-suited in sufficient suspicion surrounding fioden, jft tlio. mind's <>f sohio of the other members, that they called on him to resign. Ho didn't send ill his resignation, but remained away from'' the lodge meetings, ami at the samo tiino a.sKcd for an apology froiS, tho members who had called on him for his resignation. Ho then wrote letters of an insulting nature, to several of tho members, and eventually wrote to Mr. Spiufoy threatening that ho would, in tho lodge, shoot Morris, Allen, and Si.fisons. _ Complaint was then made to the police, and the present action followed. The accused wag a man of education. Joseph Spinley gavo evidence as to receiving postcards, and finally, on ■January 28, a letter in which tho signatory, "E. G, Bodeii," stated,: "I will kiil, oil tlie floor of the lodge., Morris, Allen, and that infamous monster Sissons," and also, ''Make 110 mistake., Spinley. murder will be tho .final .'outcome of this paltry case,'' The iettei also Stated that tlio Vriter had obtained a six-chambered revolver. In the course, of tho ovidonce a number of postcards were put in. On? ■received by Spinley was : '"■lf ehai'-ge . or withdrawal is not in hand before next lodge night, beware of trouble." Oho received by Alien runs: "H.nvo you. found that, key , you cur p. And J"ou are Provincial Grand Master of Masons, you cur?" Another was to the effect that should the '''base:, infamous charge" or its withdrawal not reach him before next lodge meeting he wotvld have the lodge's morality exposed in a weekly paper. His Worship decided that, as the facts Were admitted,' tlie' case, was not olio for the Supine Court. Hie accused was undoubtedly an easily excited liian, with a highly nervous temperament, and lie would be bound over m his own surety of £100 mid in onfi other of a like amount to keep the peace, for a year, His Worship also extracted « promise from the accused that ho would .refrain 'from indulging in intoxicating liquors.