A THREATENING LETTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4196, 19 August 1892, Page 3

A THREATENING LETTER.

Country Settlers in Court.

In the Maiterton B. M, Court this iFriday) morning, before Colonel fftoberts, E.M,, George Phillips was on the information of John Kieman with having sont a letter threatening to kill the latter on or about July Ist, Mr Pownall appeared for the prosooution and Mr Beard for the defence, John Kieman, on oath, deposed: I am asettlor residing at Tenui. For som time past I bare had a dispute with the accused over an account, and hive had a letter from him about it. In the oarly part of July I received a letter with a drawing ol a coffin upon it. The words, "It you do not pay me, death, h— fire,dynamite"were in the letter. It was enclosed in a folded sheet of paper. I received the letter at Mr Maunsell's ouUtation through the post, and I opened it there, Kobert Madden was present when I opened it. The writing purported to be an account from G. W. Phillips, The accused is the only person oi that name whom I have had dealings with. I know the handy writing of the accused, and I would 7 Bay it is in his band-writing. I can* not swear to the writing on the envelope. I received a second letter with reference to the account owing, signed by him. I swear that both letters are in the accused's hand-writing. The accused issued a summons against me and got judgment, By Mr Beard: I receive my letters through the Tenui Post Office. Madden banded the letter to me in the wrapper. He did not tell me whero he got the letter from. I received it from Madden at his house on Sunday. I was on horseback, fie told me there was a letter for mo and went inside an'd fetched it out, I will

swear that the whole of the writing in the letter is that of the accused, although I will not Bwear to tho sketch of the coffin, I should think that more than twelve months ago I received an account from the accused for £l2 8s 6d.

To Mr Pownall; Tho envelope simply shows that it has been through fls pOBt by the Alfredton and MasterTon post-mark. To tho best of my belief it was the accused who sent the letter,

Kobert Henry Madden deposed to having got the letter referred to from Maunsell's homestead and handed it to the prosecutor. He saw the letter opened by'pieman," and recognised the writing on tho 'envelope as that prpdnceij. After reading «tjie letter Kiernan handed it to witness with the remark, "That's pretty hot." [left sitting.]