BEESON'S BLAST.

NZ Truth, Issue 112, 10 August 1907, Page 5

BEESON'S BLAST.

♦ ■ — ANOTHER POT AT THE PULPIT PUNCHER. Is foe a Man of Straw or Substance ? MAGISTRATE RIDDELL RESERVES HIS DECISION.

The case of William James Pollock, until recently a clerk m the Avances to Settlers' Office, n gainst Arthur Beeson, semi-parson, wowser, and bicycle agent, was advanced another stage on Monday at Wellington, when Magistrate Rididell considered a second application by Pollock for permission to institute proceedings for oriminal libel against Beeson, who, it will be remembered, made certain vile allegations against Pollock, who resigned Ms position m the Civil Service for the purpose of clearing his character. A similar application, made a short while back, was dismissed by the Magistrate without prejudice, as sufficient evidence was not adduced that Beeson was a person of no substance and couldi not satisfy a civil claim for damages. On the , occasion of ithe former application Mr McGrath, for Pollock, represented that his client was the son of. a very old pioneer settler, of 45 years' standing m one district, m which he ha-d brought up a large family r ,.nd was universally respeoted. Pollock himself, it was shown by counsel, had since he was eighteen or nineteen years of age, occupied POSITIONS OF TRUST AND RESPONSIBILITY as clerk to local bodies, valuer, inspector of works, and m various positions m the Government service. Fe held references and testimonials of Ih* most nattering charaoter from many employees, including heads of different Government departments and Ministers of the Crown- Strangely enough, an account of this failure to produce evidence of Beeson's means, qr lack of means, was read m a Wellington paper Dy William Scott, a steward on the Mararoa, who knows a lot about Beeson, and he came forward voluntarily and signed a statement of his knowledge. On Monday last this document was produced m chambers before Magistrate Riddell, who consented to a re-foearing of the application for permission to proceed against Beeson criminally for defamation. Mr- Gully, instructed by Mr McGrath, appeared for Pollock, and Mr Gray performed a similar office for/Beeson. Scott, m his affidavit, said lie was we-U a c n ua -i n ted with Beeson, who, till he came to New Zealand, was

(Bay of Islands)., Ho keeps a store and deals m gum;] Legislation's but a pleasure, From the Bay of Islands does he come, In the House he spends his leisure.When on his feet he's bound to treat, With 'graceful sel'i-poss.ocsion. The ever occurring, peace disturbing,: Eternal Native Question.

an assistant steamship steward, . and Scott had known him since he left London m September, 1906, m the R.M.S. 'Athenic for New Zealand. Beeson informed) Scott that he went to London from New York. Beason snd Scott were on very friendly terms on the voyage to New Zealand, and had been ever since. Beeson, for about ten years past, had been employed AS ASSISTANT STEWARD on the Anchor line of s-teamers at Glasgow, and on steamers plying on the Atlantic Ocean between Great Britain a nd America. During the ofi seasons of this period of ten years Beeson had been employed as waiter in -"hash, work" m New York m wellIt n own night restaurants there, including "Broadway," "Central," "Reotbr's" and the "Hotel Horton." The wages of an assistant steward employed m the same capacity as Beeson did not exceed £3 per month. ..Beeson had shown Scott the British Mercantile Marine Book which indicated that Beeson's occupation m the past had been that of steward's assistant. Beeson arrived m New Zealand for the first time early m the month or November, .19Q&, with practically no means, and left immediately for Christchurch m search of work of any description which would enable him to earn a livelihood, and he was not successful m obtaining work there. He returned to Wellingtoo, where he obtained employment from Messrs E. Reynolds and Co. as a bicycle repairer and assistant, and he had since been m the service of that firm. Beeson informed Scott that he was a man of no substance whatsoever, and Scott believed he was unable to pay the damages m a civil action for libel. In his affidavit Scott testified, that he dad not &»ow. not? had he ever seen or spoken to William James Pollock, or any person or persons on his behalf; He Volunteered the above information m tfie interests of justice, and for the purpose of supplying evidca.ee of Beeson's financial position, as he saw by a Wellington paper that an action for -m order granting leave to Pollock to lay information against Beeson for criminal libel had been dismissed by the Magistrate a t Wellington or. Ihe ground lhat there was not sufficicnr evidence for-forc the Court to show that -Bocson was unable to pay the -damages of a civil action for

| Of course, a cop"y of this statement was furnished to Beeson, ww o filed an affidavit m rebuttal. He said he was not well acquainted with William Scotti, who was a steward on the Athenic when Beeson was a passenger on that steamer from London to Wellington, and (Beeson alleges) attended as steward to the cabin which Beeson, occupied. He had) not seen Scott more than three times since the steamer arrived "m Wellington, m November of last year, and on two of those occasions he only met him casually m 'the street. Beeson denied that -for ten years past he had been employed as an assistant steward, as mentioned by Scott. He resided m New York for 'thirteen years, and during that period took a trip once a year m the summer for the purpose of AVOIDING THE HEAT OP NEW YORK, and for educational purposes, spending three or four months m travel and m literary work. In that manner he took trips to England, Scotland, and) nearly all the countries on the Continent of Europe, including Russia. Some of the countries he visited several times, and "on the c-casion of some of those trips" he "obtained employment, for economical purposes, m tine steamship m which I made the trip to or from Glasgow, but for the particular voyage only." His duties on those occasions were those of assistant storekeeper and assistant purser. On all other trips which he made across the Atlantic, he said he travelled either as a saloon or secondclass passenger. He denied that he was employed as waiter, as mentioned by Scott. Beeson had never placed foot m any of the hotels mentioned by Scott, and he swore that he was never employed m New York or elsewihere at any time as a waiter. While he was m New York he was employed variously. Part of the time he was a wholesale provision salesman ; at another time he was clerk to a Single Tax League ; at another time he was clerk to a firm of stockbrokers, and during some ten years of the ftime he was engaged m literary labors and mission work. During six years of the time he acted as honorary assistant librarian m the V.M.C.A. library, which contained upwarfls of 80,000 volumes. Beeson said he came to New Zealand partly on account of his health, and partly for an opportunity of continuing a course of study on which he was engaged. He arrived m New Zealand) with nearly £40 m his possession, and went to Ohristcburchi, but not especially for the purpose of seeking employment. He remained m the Cathedral City a week only, and during that time made absolutely no attempt to obtain employment. Since then he had continued to reside m Well'-B^ton. He had an engagement with Reynolds and Co. for three years from January last. He was not a bicycle repairer and assistant, as alleged by Scott, but had charge of the advertisement department, and had nothing.. to do with the mechanical work. Beeson said he never informed Scott he was a man of no substance, and had never given him any informaiioa as to his means or posses- ; sions. , Beeson said further that he had read a copy of the affidavit filed by Pollock, with whom he had never been intimate, and had never given him any information with regard to ihis means. He denied informing Pollock that he had no means whatever on arriving here and would be glad to get work of any sort ; also that his rule of life was to , earn money m some place and then spend it m travelling. All that he said to Pollock about travelling was that he had spent a good deal of time and money m travelling for educational purposes. Beeson said he went to lodge m the house of- Beeson's moth-er-in-law m January last. At that time Pollock had been living for about two weeks i» the bouse, to which he had been called TO ATTEND HIS DYING WIFEv and then remained there for four weeks longer. He left, having bee n ordered by his mother-in-law to leave, •about two weeks before his wife died. Bcoson denied that he did his own washing, and that he was ttoo o hard up to pay anyone for doing it. Pollock's statement was probably based) on the fact that occasionally m the summer months Beeson washed an old soft shirt which had ibeen soiled through contact with mechanism that Beeson had been studying and examining for his own information. He denied that he was a person without mean 1 :. Apart from his personal belongings and effects, including a library of 180 volumes of standard and classical works, Beeson said he was possessed of upwards of £150. He had furthermore the assurances and promises, both verbal and written, from a large v number ©f people m the community, including several prominent and substantial men of business, of financial assistance, should it be required, to' the extent of several hundreds of pounds, and these gentlemen had undertaken to contribute (should it become necessary) whatever migh-t be required m the -way of satisfying a verdict against Beeson, for damages, if Pollock should bring a civil action against him to recover a verdict. Counsel were engaged for a considerable time arguing the legal aspect of the application. It was contended for Beeson that as he was enabled to j show means, leave to institute criminal proceedings should not be granted. For Pollock, it was shown that charges of the vilest description were made against him by a person who WAS PRACTICALLY A BIRD OF PASSAGE. after the alleged victim had been married to Pollock and lived with him as 'Ms wife for a period of nine years [subsequent to the alleged committal iof the acts. Further, that even if j Beeson were a man of substance and capable of meeting a claim for damiages, the charges wer« so horrible las to justly a criminal prosecution. ' 'Hit Worship reserved his decision.