BEESON'S BLAST.

NZ Truth, Issue 110, 27 July 1907, Page 4

BEESON'S BLAST.

THE BIBLE-PUNCHER'S CHARGES. Pollock Proposes to Purge Himself. Per Medium oi the Criminal Law. It is not a considerable time since the public of Wellington was electrified by an extraordinary charge hurled at a public servant from a pulpit by a semi-parson named Beeson, whose wowserisms are diversified by, employment as canvasser and salesman m a local cycle establishment. The fact that the pulpit cf a local church should be put to such use was commented upon at the time, as also were the character of the charges and their disastrous effect upon the object oi Beeson's denunciations. Pie is Wm. J. Pollock, Who for the past twelve months has been engaged as clerk m the Advances to Settlers office, and he is now taking measures to clear his character. . Beeson .followed up his pulpit utterances by communicating with Mr Peter Hayes, Superintendent of the Advances to Settlers ofnce, and Polj lock has been FURNISHED WITH SPECIFIC CHARGES, upon which he is proceeding against Beeson for criminal libel. The charges are contained m the following letter, written by Beeson :— To Peter Hayes, Esq., Government Advances to Settlers Office. Sir,— ln reply to your letter of the I3th inst., I charge W. J. Pollock, a clerk m your department, with (1) luring to a lonely ♦hillside, under cover of tlie dark, an innocent girl, and there, when' the said girl was unconscious, committing the crime of rape. The girl, under force of circumstances, became Pollock's wife : her death ensued after months cf extreme suffering.' I charge 'Pollock— (2) With luring to a lonely roadside a delicate girl of 15 years of age, and while the said girl v/as unconscious, attemotihg- the crime of rape. (3) Entering the house, uninvited and . unannounced, of the aborementioned girl, and there when the

girl was alone, without help or protection and unconscious, attempting ihe second time the crima •of rape. The shock very seriously, perhaps permanently, iniured the girl's health. Pollock's age at this time was SS.

The crimes char-red against Pollock were attended by circiinistanJ ees of the most revolting brute.lI Hy. hearticssness. and cowardice. Pollock, when sued for the support of two illegitimate children f twins) Xv'r-s ordered to pay £200, ■ the M>.fristrate sti-rmaiisir-g him at *• the time as "the parish hull." I need not say that t]_o honor or the Civil Service will demand a searching enquiry as to tho t.nih of these charges, and I rr.spec._-_ 3ly rcciuest, before such cn.u.iry be held, an interview with tho member m Vhai-ge of the department.— I am, sir, Yours very truly. (Signed) ARTHUR BEESON. This letter was shown to Pollock by the head of his department, and the aspersed gr nil. man resigned his position m order to institute proceedings for criminal libel against Beeson. He is m the- unfortunate position that owing to the illness of his wife, extending over mruny months, bis income has been expended, and he cannot proceed against Beeson civilly m an action for damages, for the reason that Beeson might apply to the Court to compel Pollock .to show security for the costs of the prosecution.' That 13 supposing Eceson is a ' man of substance, and could satisfr a claim for damages ; but Pollock has reason to believe that Beeson is not a man of means. Accordingly. 011 Monday last,' through Mr McGrath. he applied, under the Criminal Code Act Amendment Act, 1901, to Magri3i.r_-.te Riddell, for an order authorising ths COMMENCEMENT OF A CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONfor defamatory libel against Arthur Besson. Mr Gray appeared for Beeson, and the application was heard m Chambers. It was necessary for the applicant to satisfy the Magistrate oa two -points. (1) That criroi.r_.al defa- ! mation had been committed. Ia support of this Beeson's letter was. produced. (2) That Beeson was not a man from whom d-una_re__ could be recovered m a civil r-cticni In support of this. Mr McGrath r.ut m an affidavit that he had mad :? inquiries concerning the means of Beeson, but was not able to ascertain that he was a man cf substance.

His Worship considered his affidavit insufficient, and while, recognising the difficulty of fuvnisl.ing proof, said the onus rested on the' apvlic?-nt to prove that Beeson had no means. He dismissed thc application without prejudice,- but we .understand that when he has obtained the desired information, Pollock will lodge a fresh application.