WHO WAS THE WRITER? THE ATKINSON INCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 52, 29 August 1913, Page 2

WHO WAS THE WRITER? THE ATKINSON INCIDENT

POLICE TO BE ASKED TO SOLVE MYSTERY. A Sherlock Holmes was badly required at the meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union kst evening to fathom the authorship of the my*terious letter from the West Coast, to the effect that Atkinson, of Greymouth, was unable to make the trip with the New Zealand team for California. The letter was produced and subjected to a close scrutiny by all the members of the executive. It wa« a scrawly specimen of pencraft, and the spelling was indifferent. It ran:— •- "Hokitika, 19th August, 1913. The Charman, Selection Committe. Sir,— As it is impossible for me to go with football team to San Francisco, I must notify you. Yours reegretfully, (Signed), y H. Atkinson, , Railway, Hokitika." The word "Hokitika'' had been originally Bpelt " OketiKa," but this had been erased and the right spelling substituted. The secretary (Mr. J. D. Avery) escplained that immediately the letter was received the selectors were informed that Atkinson could not make the trip, and Gillespie was nominated. Then fol* lowed a press telegram from Greymouth denying that Atkinson had withdrawn from the team. The following telegram "was thereupon forwarded:— " H. Atkinson, Rugby player, Greymouth.— Press telegram states you deny withdrawing from team. Received letter dated Hokitika, 19th, signed H. Atkinson, stating impossible to go. (Signed), Avery." Then followed this telegram from the West Coast Rugby Union: '"Were you advised Atkinson unable go California? If so, advice incorrect. States he never sent such information, and never authorised any person do so. Will arrive Wellington September 4. . . . (Signed) Fraser." To this the following reply was sent: "Received letter signed Atkinson, Have telegraphed him. (Signed) A very." The same day Atkinson wired: "Emphatically deny authorship of letter. Forward same to Fraser immediately. Presume I still retain place in team, having made no withdrawal. (Signed) Atkinson." The chairman (Mr. N. Galbraith) drew attention to the fact, that the letter was from Hokitika, whereas Atkinson lived at Gveymouih. The letter had been addressed to the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, but as the envelope had been " destroyed it was impossible to say what the post-mark had been. Mr. F. G. Wallburton suggested that possibly a third or fourth grade player named Atkinson was "having a joke." Mr. E. Wylie moved: "That the letter be sent to the Weßt Ooast Union for investigation, and that, if necessary, the police be asked to make full enquiry into the authorship." Mr. J. W. Lawton objected to tho last clause, and moved as an amendment that it be deleted. Mr. A. Laurenson also s took this view. "Why rush to the police?" he asked. After a little further discussion us to whether or not the assistance of the police should be asked in the unravelling'of the mystery, th*e original motion was carried. -