THE BLATCH-LILLYWHITE PROBLEM.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 May 1901, Page 4

THE BLATCH-LILLYWHITE PROBLEM.

Opinions From Home.

Interview with Lillywhite's Bro-

ther.

According to Telegraph there is a growing conviction in Colchester that the man in custody in New Zealand for the murder of Mr Welsh is not Blatcli, and that Sergeant Frost and Mr John Marsh have made a lamentable, though perhaps an excusable mistake. "But," says our contemporary, "the important question for the Colchester ratepayers is whether the Watch Committee will not take immediate steps to prevent an innocent man being brought from the other side of the world to Colchester. The committee have chosen to adopt a policy of secrecy, so that nobody knows what they are doing, or even whether they are doing anything at all. Are they letting the whole thing drift, in the hope that somenow all will come rig'it in the end? There is not only the danger of doing a gross injustice to a man who is perhaps, innocent, but there is the question of expense. When the accused was first arrested, we understand that the chief constable was called on to give an indemnity, through the Home Office, for all the costs, incurred by the New Zealand authorities. That, in itself, represents a considerable liability, even if the man prove to bo Blatch. But should he turn out to be Lilly white, then from the moment the Colchester Officers reached Wellington, and pledged themselves to the prisoner's identity, the question of compensation-was added. If he is now brought to England it means another considerable outlay in transit, with a delay of at least another two months, and a possible claim for compensation, wnich cannot, either on legal or on moral grounds, be resisted, to the tune of some hundreds of ponnds. Even in tho matter of keeping things secret, the Watch Com- . mittee have indicrously and deservedly failed, having regard to the fact that publicity could not possibly do any harm, and that the ratepayers wero entitled to know what was being done. If, by any proved blundering on their part, they saddle the towns with a heavy expense, which might have been avoided, the ratepayers will certainly call them to account when the truth is eventually made known, " Mr. I. Lillywhite Speaks. A representative of the Essex Telegraph has interviewed Mr Isaac Lillywhite, of Leeds, the brother of Charles Lillywhite, whom the prisoner in New Zealand claims to be. The reporter states that Mr Isaac Lillywhite bears a striking resemblance to the real Arthur Blatch. Mr Lillywhite said it was about 23 years since he last saw his brother Charles, but he had read a lotter which Charles had sent from America to another brother in London about 1892. The wife of this brother had also had a letter from Charles since his arrest in Wellington, New Zealand, in which he said, inter alia:— "You will bo surprised to know that I havo been arrested for a crime of which I am quite ignorant of, not as C. Lillywhite, but as another fellow. The case as stated by the police is this. In 1893 some fellow who they say looks like me in England killed a man and burnt the house. The paper I have ssnt you will explain better than I can. If you have

any of my letters please keep them. If you have any (portrait take care of it. It may be wanted later. If you know the address of Ike, please write to him. You may have a chance to see me soon. If these people can't make out who I am, I suppose I will bo brought to England to bo identified. That will suit me all right. When you write to Isaac ask him to take care of the portrait I sent him years ago, I think about 1881 or 1882. Do you ever see Liz. or mother now ? I doubt if they would know me unless I talked with them. Have you seen Harry Noble since I left ? How is Loo getting on'? .. . . Now, my girl, I want you to remember as many as you can of our old friends, for if I am brought to England I will want them to identify me. It soerrl3 funny when people tell me I am not myself I feel like laughing in their faces. It does seem so funny. ... I still have the Anglo concertina. It's tone is better than ever, though I seldom touch it. Those were good times from 1873 to 1895, I suppose Kiiburn and Willesden are thicker built by this time. I would like you to go to Holloway and see how many of our old friennds you can find. (Here followed a list of some half dozen persons, with their addresses in North London.) It must bo 20 years since I saw Liz or mother. How is your people ? You never speak of your mother, sister, or brother. Find them all out. "Charles Lilly white " Questioned upon this letter, Mr Isaac Lillywhite, of Leeds, said that Charles always called him "Ike," and "Liz" would be his sister Eliza. Others mentioned in the letter were also known to Mr Lillywhite, and he was aware that Charles had a concertina.

Mr Isaac Lillywhite had received a letter from the Chief Constable of Colchester, who said:—"lt is possible that your brother may have died and Blatch have become possessed in some way of his papers, and consequently taken the name of Lillywhite. Have you any letters 'or photographs which you can send me to help in clearing up the matter before Blatch leaves for England, which I am daily expecting he will do ? Perhaps you can also give me the address of some other of his relatives, and also particulars of his history since leaving England. I can hardly think that our officers can be mistaken."

Mr Lillywliite was asked by the reporter— Did you answer that letter ? " Yes, I wrote back that I was positive the officers had made a mistake ; that I had no letters, but I had a portrait which 1 did not wish to part with. And as for addressee, I should have to go to London to seek them out." In another letter the Chief Constable of Colchester mentioned that he had a photograph of Charles Lillywliite, taken by Cole, of Euston-road, some 20 years ago. [Euston-road it will be recollected, was mentioned by the man in custody in New Zealand as a road near which he had lived in London.] Mr Lillywhito further stated that his brother Charles had small pox when two or three years old. [And ihe prisoner 19 pitted wite small pox.] He added that the man in New Zealand had given tLe true history of his brother's life in England.