“THREATENING LETTER”

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1932, Page 3

“THREATENING LETTER”

WOMAN COMMITS SUICIDE. LONDON, February 27. [: A letter written on behalf of a mail- 1 order firm to a customer who had not paid her debt wa& criticised by Mr Douglas CoWburh, the coroner, at the resumed - inquest at Camberwell yesterday on Mrs Florence Kate Wagg, ; 4G who was found gassed at her home j in Boundary Lane, Camberwffil. The husband, Maurice John Wagg, a. ware- ■ houseman, said that his wife hadjeft, a letter behind saying, “I am in debt. •: •This is the' only way out. Forgive me ; and forget.” ; William Edward Rouse, manager of J. A. Davis and Company, mail-order ; Denmark-hiR, said that Mrs Wagg had purchased a frock and a pair of shoes last- June on which she paid a deposit of 3/-, on a total sum of £l/19/- Later she paid another 3/-, and no further payment was made until December 21, when they received 1/6. The firm had written to her several times and had been unable to obtain any satisfaction. Mr Cowburn read the following passage from a letter: — "It is essential that we should receive a reply by return, otherwise it will be necessary for us to continue inquiries with our local agent in your district to ascertain the genuineness of your order, in which case it will be entirely your own fault if your neighbours display a knowledge of* thia unsatisfactory i*roi-trcjfi pfion "Did you write this letter?” Mr Cowburn asked. Mr Rouse: Yes. We do our best to get money owing as per agreement. We have avoided County Court proceedings as much as possible because they entail a lot of expense. Mr Cowburn: That is your proper remedy. I see you describe yourselves as "under Royal patronage.” What entitles you to describe yourselves in that way? Mr Rouse: I cannot answer definitely at the moment. I believe we have a right to it, but it goes back several years. Mr Cowburn: Are you satisfied in sending a threatening letter like this for such a small sum as was owing? —We have thousands of accounts on dur books every week. The. coroner, recording a verdict of sucide while of unsound mind, said that it was clear that the woman was ill with worry. She had incurred What appeared to be a very trivial debt. She was evidently a very sensitive Woman, and allowed the matter to prey upon her mind. “This transaction appears to me to , be of a most dubious character,” added i Mr Cowburn. "Whether it is legal or i not, however, it is not for this Court . to determine.”