“HONEST JOHN GREY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 882, 28 January 1930, Page 1

“HONEST JOHN GREY”

Texas Mayor’s Praise

RESPECTED AND HONOURED”

BETTER known to New Zealanders as “Honest John Grey,” of Helensville, Mr. A. B. Crouch, who returned from America by the Niagara yesterday, is highly esteemed in Texas. A letter has been received by THE SUN from Mr. J. B. Ford, Mayor of McGregor, Texas, in- which he says many kind things about the Helensville land agent.

The letter read as follows: ■ Honourable Sirs, —Of my own free -will and accord, without solicitation or request from any one. 1 desire to ■ive you briefly my version of the 13 vears 1 escapade of my good friend A. B. Crouch who, I understand, is better Vnown to you as ‘Honest John Grey.’ My views coiuside with the opinion of iiie entire citizenry of this State. "The Crouch family is of AngloAmerican stock. The forefather of the family landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, December 21, IG2O, with the Pilgrim Fathers—according to the family tree. The immediate forefathers of the family were pioneers in the settlement of Texas, and the Honourable J. M. Crouch, the lather of ‘A.B.,’ has been, since 1852, a resident of this community. He is respected and honoured by all who know him. He is ambitious, distinctly progressive in type, scrupulously honest, exceedingly industrious, and generous to a fault. •'A. B. Crouch is of a type similar to that of his father, but he has, or did have a bit more of the ‘American

gambling spirit’ and ‘dreams of getting rich quick,’ which, by the way, afflict many of us belonging to the younger American generation. He bought too much ‘future grain,’ commonly called ‘chalk marks,’ which is not criminal in this country, but very, very risky, and an exceedingly hazardous business. ‘A.B.’ guessed wrong and lost, and he lost heavily. So much so that he did not feel that he had the nerve to face liis friends. It was extremely embarrassing to him and his family. He could not pay his heavy debts —even though he was very desirous of doing so. He refused to call on ‘dad.’ He was too independent. This may have been indiscretion —bat nothing more. He was sorely depressed and. discouraged and sought new and greener pastures. Evidently, he found them, because he came back able to pay his debts and clear his record. He did not have to re-establish liis good name, as he had never lost that. If he has an enemy here, I do not know it. Yours very truly, J. B. FORD. Mayor of McGregor, Texas.