AWFUL VENGEANCE THREATENED

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1931, Page 5

AWFUL VENGEANCE THREATENED

| LETTERS TO WOMAN. REMARKABLE CHARGE AGAINST MAN. AUCKLAND, April 13. A remarkable cas e came before the Court this afternoon when Alexander Lawson M’Leod Hall, aged fifty-eight years, appeared on a charge of sending to Alma Grey a letter threatening I to kill her two sons. Hall, who w a s described as a clerk, has lived in China. During the war lie was an officer in the London Scottish. Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike said that, in company with Detective Belton, lie interviewed accused on April 5, and that be admitted writing the letter. Accused said he had lived in China a number of years and was at present trying to get back there. In a letter which accused wrote to Mrs Alma Grey on Decern l>er 1 he quoted a letter from li P r to him dated September 10, 1930. Hall stated that Airs Grey said she was posting to him by registered post next week a parcel containing a wrist watch, her sister’s wedding ring, engagement and jade rings, and a portrait of Mrs Hall. These things should have arrived the first week in November. Accused stated in his letter to Mrs Grey, “l conclude, therefore, that you have changed your mind and intend to retain possession even of these articles to which your letter practically admits I have a right.” Accused went on to remark in his letter: SECRET SOCIETIES. ‘‘Meantime I have not been idle, and have got into touch with certain Chinese tongs societies) of which I was made an honorary member in 1909 for certain service I rendered to two of their leaders by saving their lives and certain importantproperties belonging to the tongs from the robbers. T suggested to them certain things which they might do to your sons to punish you if you insist upon retaining M'argarette’s (his wife’s) shares, cash, etc., also my red lacquer bronze, etc. This was to the effect that they should both meet- with fatal accidents a means of punishment at which tongs are particularly skilful. OUT OF RTS HANDS. “They now notify me that they will deal with the affair entirely in their own way, of which I will be kept in total ignorance: and I am advised to give you warning that, unless I notify' them that you have made full restitn--Ikm of my properties, they will take the matter out of my hands altogether and make it a tong affair. At the end of March the matter will he opt of my hands, either by you selling my stuff (except what I want sent out to me) and remitting the proceeds, the lowest limit of sale being £350, b.v the date named ; or the tongs take charge, Eure well, and for the last time. (Signed) A. L. Hall.” Accused admitted writing a letter to Airs Grey on December 1. ‘‘ln this letter,” he said, “I have stated thatT am an honorary member of certain tongs or societies in China, which is true. 1 notified her that if certain properties of mine were not returned to me I oroposed to get into communication with the intention of getting their assistance, suggesting that perhaps fatal action against her sons might be effective. This action was not to b ( .> carried out by me but by the tongs’ agents. SONS TN THE ARMY. “T know that Mrs Grey’s sons arc British Army officers, and that one was in India and another in England when T last heard of them. So far 1 have taken no action with regard to getting thp tongs to act in any w«v; hut. in the- event of Airs Grey’s insistence in retaining my property without, compensating me in accordance with the terms offered in my letter of December. 1930, I still intend to ask for whatever assistance 1 can induce the tongs to give me to retaliate on Airs Grey and hers when J get back to China. I can do nothing in the matter while in New Zealand. In my letter I have conveyed the idea which I intend to get the tongs t° carry out if I possibly can.’’ Hall added that h e was at present working on relief works and that he had no other means than what lie thus earned. If he had funds he would return to China at the first opportunity. Accused pleaded not guilty and wn« committed for trial. Bail was refused. Afrs Grey was Hall’s wife’s sister, who. at the time of her death in Feb ruary. 1929. was staying with Colon?. 1 and Airs Edward (Alma) Grey, near Dover England.