“THE SIGN OF FOUR” IN REAL LIFE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9057, 23 January 1908, Page 6

“THE SIGN OF FOUR” IN REAL LIFE.

MYSTERIOUS MAN 4 THREATS. A reminiscent of Sir Oonan Do/ie’s “The Sign of Pour” was ] toid at the Preston County Police Court recently, when a painter * named John Balshaw was charged with sending th/eatening letters containing menaces to George Tebay Hunt, farmer, of luglehead Cottage, Broughton, his former employer. The police haye been watching Mr Hunt’s house for some time, in consequence of the letter he has received. it was stated that th(s letters, which were found on Mr 1. Hunt’s doorstep, and about his ■’grounds, were signed ‘ ‘ The Don. ’ ’ The writer threatened to hill Mr Hunt’s sou, poison his cattle, and bul'a down his farm unless eleven hundred sovereigns were paid over. One letter ran:— fetf'Oa Monday I was standing beHphd a wall, and, unseen, by auyI blew a thorn dart, which your son’s hand. I used a blowpipe and a thorn. The puncture is indiscernable, but in sis the doctors in all four conwill be useless. The only is a. secret balm I possess, received it from my father, was a full-blooded Indian. hundred sovereigns must be in the drive near the gatesave the boy’s life.” letters announced: trifle with the worst than play with ‘ The Don. ’ are not dealing with a lunatic, desperate men in desperate wanting to get back to their ’ ’ stated that half a mile wire was being affixed to to blow up the farm. letters signed “Carlos” stated writer wished to save the from “The Don’s” devilish and would do so for £BO. letter found in the carriage placed a small tin which stated contained the balm. The quantity in the insufficient to counteract HPyeffects of the poisoned thorn Fwound, would postpone the effects Lof the poison. The tin was foundVto ■contain some kind of grease. Binother letter told Mr Hunt that it H?as useless calling in the police, as Hll Scotland Yard could not saveIf Mr Hunt agreed to pay £3O, of paper must be fastened trap with fodr tacks. affixed the in the and {While dint one hearing, In the darkness a he dismounted the footsteps of jsomeaway. . was arrtited, and letters, but it was stated Hkti' off' his house, 78, Havelock Preston, being searhced a entitled “The Lost Inca,” deals with the adventures of Carlos Elmer” in Peru, was wtih Strand Magazines conW taining Sir Conan Doyle’s stories. " Balshaw’s writing, it was stated, was tested, and alleged to agree in a number of particulars with the letters. Balshaw was committed for trial at the Lancaster Assizes.