THE PASSING OF PEACOCK.

NZ Truth, Issue 115, 31 August 1907, Page 5

THE PASSING OF PEACOCK.

CONCERNING THE LETTER TO THE DAUGHTER.

The Other Version Given.

More About the Pornic Pig.

In dealing with that licentious monster Henry Peacock, "Truth" last week made reference to a certain individual Vho was not named, and alleged that this individual, a, friend of Peacock, had acted as the intermediary between the foul incestuous pest m prison an<d his outraged! daughter', and had conveyed a letter to the girl, m her mother's absence;, urging on hear to confess m the wit-ness-box m the Criminal Court that her story was a tissue of lies, that she was a party to a conspiracy with her mother to gaol the unnatural parent. Moreover, the attention of the police was directed to the matter and they were urged to take action. In this it would seem that "Truth" has done the individual concerned a grave injustices and "Truth" is only too happy to give another version. This individual, though he is a friend to Peacock, has been a still greater friend to the unhappy family. He certainly did convey messages from father to daughter ; and, though a letter to him from Peacock urging that the girl should go hack on her evidence was received, it did not go to the girii, but instead it WAS SHOWN TO A DETECTIVE, who instructed that it should not he given to the daughter. "Truth" is only too willing to give this correction, because it shows too plainlythat Peacock is a scoundrel, and because his daughter refused to give evidence to his liking, he endeavored as directly as he dared to besmirch his- daughter's character when givingi • evidence on his own; behalf. Evidence a Judge condemned, testimony a jury properiy and promptly refused to credit. Now that Peacock has gone to gaol ■ fot a long, weary ten years' stretch, the talk of the town chiefly concerns the other woman who is Peacock's own true darling, and who 'gave it forth that, as her darlinp- was deserts ed m his hour of need by his own wife, she intends to stick to him, and proposes to wait for him, though, so far, no offer has been forthcoming from her to enter a convent and there kesp herself spotlessly pure m the interim. Some funny tales- are being ■- told of Peacock and his dress-mak-ing paramour, which, though conr nected with a sad, sorry and sordid business, cannot fail to raise a smile when Peacock's double damned per- . fidy is known. It is related that on one occasion he actually had the impudence to introduce his paramour to bis wife as the wife of his fxiendi. the one concerning whom "Truth" has made a few remarks above. Having thus thrown his wife off her guard i; what does Peacock the Pornic next < do ? He actually led the wife of his ■: friend to understand that the strumpet he was carting around with him WAS HIS OWN WIFE. Could -anything more perfidious be imagined ? Now, this self-same para- • mour has on more than one occasion fallen foul of Mrs Peacock, and, not strange to relate, things have been • very unpleasant for a time. Anyhow, this awful creature, who is loud m ! - her protestations of her love for ' the incestuous faeute, can wait for his release. Mrs Peacock can now, on very good grounds, claim a divorce from hex scoundrel of -a husband, and it is to be hoped she will lose little time m doinv so- To be freed from suoh a mill-ston? should indeed glad- ' den and lighten her heart. Feacock is now serving a sentence ' t of ten years' imprisonment, and there are a lot of people m Wellington who complain that while Justice Cooper crave the burglars the equivalent of a life sentence, Peacock m the circumstances was treated very leniently. . Of. course, for coining, Peaccck was unpunished. Years ap© that crime was a han^in^ matter^ or an offence earning for the criminal transportation for life. These are more humane days, and though m Australasian nraols there are coiners servine; very lengthy ' sentences, "Truth" canrot very well echo the sentiment that Peacock should nave "been punished further. His crime on bis daughter damns him forever. For that crime he received the maximum term of imprisonment allowed by Law- He will forever be known as the ' VIOLATOR OF HIS DAUGHTER'S : VIRTUE. it is a matter of congratulation that such a brute has been put m his proper place, and all the talk m the world that he is innocent ; that he is the victim of a conspiracy ; that he is hard done by, will not alter the opinion of "Truth" and a great many others, that he is a great moni ster ; that Judge Cooper was right m declaring him unfit for a civilised community. The pity is that the • maximum penalty was only 10 years' imprisonment.