“The Press” In 1864
DECEMBER 16 THE LATE GROG—SELLING CASE SIR, —As many circumstances unfortunately conspire to give coloring to a statement which for the last few days has obtained currency, namely that I took an active part in the prosecution of Mr Anslow, I cannot, in justice to myself, allow such a statement to go uncontradicted. 1 have been ten years in Canterbury, I am very well known to most old settlers, and 1 will defy any one to say that during that time I have ever done anything which would justify them in supposing that I have turned spy or informer —a character which is very properly obnoxious to me, in common with all British subjects. The simple facts of the case are as follows: —On the 6th instant Messrs, Dell, Cambell and West were drinking with me at my house for some time. We adjourned to the Cafe for luncheon; had Morton and Robertson’s been near we might as well have gone there. There was no allusion made to the fact of drink being sold on the premises, either before we entered the house or after we left, until the next day, when one of the gentlemen named mentioned it to another publican, who brought it under the notice of the Committee of the Licensed Victuallers* Association. The
Association then deputed four or five publicans (of whom I was not one) to go to the Cafe on the 9th instant and get evidence to secure a conviction, which evidence they got, feeling that they were only carrying out the objects of the Association by protecting the legitimate trader. Between the 6th and 12th instant I was on two occasioins requested to lay a formal information against Mr Anslow, but positively refused to do so, as I did not consider it any business of mine, but the duty of the police. Any impartial observer, looking over the evidence that I gave in the Police Court (vide Lyttelton Times of Tuesday last) will see that I paid so little attention to what was done at the Cafe, that I did not even know where the liquor came from, nor who brought it in; and 1 was not aware that a prosecution had been commended until Monday morning, at 10 o’clock, when a Detective waited on me, and threatened to subpoena me if I would not attend the court to give evidence. Once in the witness box, and on oath, of course I was compelled to give evidence,, although much against my own inclination. My reason for troubling you with this letter is that the accused and the public regard me as the informer in the case, which I distinctly and flatly deny... . T. B. THOMPKINS.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19641216.2.169
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30625, 16 December 1964, Page 20
Word Count
456“The Press” In 1864 Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30625, 16 December 1964, Page 20
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