REALLY!

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2033, 27 March 1913, Page 3

REALLY!

THIS WAS TOO MUCH, SAYS MR

REARDON

A LETTER WHICH HE TOOK SERIOUSLY. PElt I'KBSS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, March 26. A ca.se arising out of the slaughtermen's strike was heard before Mr Itiddell. S.M. 3 at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Walter Litchfield, a farmer at Manaroa, Picton Sounds, was charged that on or about February 10 last h© did send a letter to M. J. lteardon, containing a threat to kill the recipient. The text of the document was as follows:—

''M. J. Reardon, Wellington.—ll you want to keep your job you had bettor settlo this strike quick. My mortgagee is only waiting for an excuse to step in, and if 1 can't sell my lambs within the next fortnight or three weeks, he will get his chance, and I shall be ruined. If that happens it will not matter what happens to me after. I don't want to be either ruined or hung, but if 1 am througn you I will send you to Hell first, and though you may have a few weeks' start of jne, and Hell is a big place, I'll find you if it does take most of eternity to do it. Then it will be Hell indeed for you, and perhaps for both of us, so if you don't want your wife to be a widow, settle this strike at once, or I'll settle you. Presidents, kings, emperors, sometimes die before,they are ready, so don't cry if you bring a sudden end on yourself." The envelope was addressed-: '' His Imperial Majesty M. J. Reardon, Tzar of all the New Zealand's strike promoters, etc., Wellington, or elsewhere. ■''

His "Worship said tlie evidence showed that Reardonliad received the tetter, and that tho letter contained threats. Whether these threats were intended to be carried out or not was noti for the Coux*t to decide. There was some evidence which connected defendaut with the letter, and he was of opinion that a priraa facie case had been made out. It did not matter whether the letter was to be regarded as a joke or whelier it was intended seriously. Litchheld pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail, in self £50 and one surety of £50, was granted.