AN INCENDIARY BOOTS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 217, 28 March 1872, Page 7

AN INCENDIARY BOOTS.

Mr. George "Williams, now of Her Majesty's gaol, and formerly boots at the White Horse Hotel, Tokomairiro, has evidently been carefully studying the case of Cyrus Haley, the Auckland incendiary, and seems to have resolved - to emulate the performances of that distinguished individual. Some time ago, it will be recol'e t»d that the stables of the White Horse Hotel were destroyed by tire, and though no positive proof could be obtained, suspicion fell upon Williams, who left Mr. Langley's service about that time. Williams arrived at Tokomairiro from Dunedin on Saturday the lGth stayed that night, and started up-country on Sunday. On iVlonday night Mr. Langley received a threatening letter, purporting to be signed by Williams, through the postoffice. He gave tlie letter to the Sergeant of Police at Tokomairiro, who Started in pursuit of him at daylight on Tuesday morning, and arrested him on the bank of the Waitahuna river. The sergeant told him he' was charged with having written a threatening letter to Mr. Langley, and he admitted having done so. This he afterwards denied in court, but witnesses were called who proved that the letter was in his handwriting. Thelettercharged Langley with having circulated false reports regarding theprisoner, and with knowing the party who had taken £11, his property.- It then proceeded: — "Now, my sole intention in coining to Tokomairiro is, to tell you plainly, to have revenge —for revenge is sweet. I will not stop in my programme until you are left wichout house or home. Revenge T want,, and revenge I will have. 1 may be miles away from, your establishment, but still misfortune will attend you, not in an indirect way, but in a way to beave no. doubt to you that your boots, G. Williams r "is the origin of ifc ; but to be able to prove it — you will be cookerl. Haley's revenge towards Russell will be nothing compared to mine towards on The remainder of my

yv . . . . life is dedicated .to your destruction , and if ever 1 gat half a slant, T shall then show you what ray revenge is. You will not half anticipate it, so farewell to you, and think of .rn<> in vom i • •v- h-

hour of trouble se this letter at your peril — as j?nr© as you dp you will regret it." . The Tokomairiro Bench bound Williams .over feo keep

the pea^e for twelve months in his? own recognizance of £100 and two sureties of i"f)0 each. This to him will most lik<*iy be equivalent to a sentence of twelve months' imprisonment.