THREAT TO ASSASSINATE SIR. J.WARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12044, 14 August 1902, Page 5

THREAT TO ASSASSINATE SIR. J.WARD.

ARREST OF MR. F.T. MOORE. \-

THREATENING METERS TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. ';■

[BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. Tins ■ afternoon, y shortly ~afte. "two o'clock,': Police . Commissioner Tunbridge and a private detective; were ' seen hurriedly '• rushing through -. one of the rooms ■■ in ■? Parliament House, and- a little, later Mr. P. T. Moore was arrested : in. .the public .gallery and lodged iii prison for threatening the life of Sir Joseph Ward, the Acting-premier.

: Some few days ago a copy of a/letter addressed to f Messrs. Piraai, Atkinson; and Monk,'; M.H.R.'s, was sent ur to the Press Gallery. It was dated 152, I'inakori Road,;* August 5, 1902," and was marked "Copy for Press Gallery reporters." Is ■ referred to 'the cowardly personal attacks": that • had ; been made upon Mi; Moore i in • the ;•. House last week as only equalled by t the ;" traitorous: tactics" of certain people. " These cowardly rogues,", the writer added," " were afraid that he would expose the rascality of whioh they had been ■ guilty." He expressed : surprise that certain members "should champion such infamy and become o their tools -in Parliament." "Unless," he/added,?" "are lost or dead to all sense of honour and justice, you will challenge the charges made iu this letter." " - . ' ?..„•- - -~'.. t

_ Moore was formerly manager of the Wellington Moat Export Company's works. ;Ho was also . known in Wellington a3 a ■ faith healer, and the author of a■> remarkable pamphlet, for which he claimed Divine inspiration. Subsequently, he was appointed by the Government. to report upon the meat; freezing works of the colony, 1 ' but it is understood that recently this appointment was terminated. ; r -,'-

Within the last few days he has written letters to Sir Joseph Ward, pointing out the fate of President MeKinley, of United States of. America, . and hinting ; that; Sir Joseph Ward ought to have a bullet put through him, or a dagger put into him. v - ; TilCise threatening letters' led to his arrest in itbe' publio gallery of Parliament House ; this afternoon. The arrest was kept very quiet-, but gradually the news leaked out, and to-night the presence of a detective and the Resident Magistrate, Mr. Hasolden, in the lobbies, led me \to make inquiries, with the above result.\ Mr. Moore will appear before the Stipendiary Magistrate to-morrow morning. Bail was refused. ;■ No weapon was found on the prisoner when he was arrested.