THREATENING THE ACTING-PREMIER.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11352, 15 August 1902, Page 5

THREATENING THE ACTING-PREMIER.

; ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. (P—B33 ASSOCIAyiON -SJ——.A—.) ' | WELLINGTON, August 14. F. F. Moore, who was recently appointed by the Qoventment to enquire into the frozen meat indue try, and- whose service- have since "been dispensed with, was before the Magistrate's Court this morning, on a charge of writing a letter to Sir Joseph Word, threatening to kill him, and ■ do him grievous bodily harm. He pleaded' "Guilty," and was remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence. The letter from Moore to Sir Joseph W-urd said that if the writer removed War _ as McKioley was removed, he believed be would be rendering a service to New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward was the head of the monopolies -which he (Moore) was fighting, and stopped his progress. "Why," continues the letter, "should I let you stop mc when a b_fet or a dagger will put you out of the way. -I am w_ing to sacrifice my life for the good of my cause, as the Anarchists do.". Then, follows a reference to the work he has been engaged in, and the letter con-: oludes as follows: —"You are treating mc foully. I .hall deal foully with» you. As you are warned you cannot regard mc as cowardly." .The letter is signed,"and no secrecy made about its, delivery. (tkom a correspondent.) - v ' WELLINGTON, August 14. After the evidence had been heard in the charge against F. T. Moore, ol sending tlireatening letters to the Acting-Premier, the accused said: "I plead guilty. I admit writing th. letters. I wrote them under a sense of irritation and without the slightest intention of doing -what I had written. I showed the letters to a friend before sending them, and informed her that.j I had no intention cf carrying out my?: threats. I thoroughly realise how foolish I have been." -j The Magistrate remarked that he was glad to hear it was not a man accused showed them to. The first letter, written by Moore two days ago, is as follows: — "I want to know how much longer you propose humbugging mc re money months overdue. You are suppressing the work the Premier set mc to do, and causing mc to feel so very desperate that I am disposed to regard your conduct as personal, and risk my life against a man who treats roe with the scorn and contempt that you manifest. I personally warn you that I want attention or revenge.—F. T. Moore." The letter over which the present charge arose was received yesterday, and began as v stated above, and concludes: —"With you put away, a successor like Roosevelt may come forward, and perform the -work you stop. You have muzzled Field and Duncan, and will not place my final report on tfae frozen meat industry, dated 31st July, on the table of the House :n the form I have compiled. You propose mixing my papers' with others. I won't have this. I will have .air play and noth—g else. You are treating mc foully. I shall deal foully with you." Tha letter -written by Sir Joseph Ward himself, dated August 14th, to Mr JamMoore, js as follows:—"Dear sir—Regarding your representations concerning" your son, ,I»much regret the trouble he is in. I can assure you that I not only have no desire to see liim prosecuted, but would be exceedingly glad to see Mm forgiven. He has evidently laboured under some misconception regarding myself, and under excitement wrote mc. Had. I known him or yourself or any of h:s family I would have sent for you, and asked you to take care of him.—Your3 truly, J. G. Ward." This last-mentioned letter. was put hi by counsel for the accused. Moore now stands committed for sentence.