BEESON'S BLAST.

NZ Truth, Issue 119, 28 September 1907, Page 5

BEESON'S BLAST.

CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL LIBEL The Bible-Punchor Reserves His Defence And is Committed for Trial.

lij will be recollected that a semiparson named Arthur Beeson some four months back made some extraordinary charges against the character of one William " James Pollock, a clerjc m the Advances to Settlers office. It was done m a Methodist pulpit m Taranaki - street, and "Truth" made remarks upon the circumstances with considerable emphasis. Beeson subsequently wrote to Pollock's boss, Peter Heyes, Com. missioner of Taxes on the subject, and the letter appears to have been couched m a vague sort of way, for Heyes wrote back, requesting that specific charges should be made against Pollock. Beeson duly specified his complaint, and it will be recollected "Truth" published the particulars of the charges. Pollock then resigned his position m the Advances to Settlers Office m order to proceed against Beeson for defamatory libel, and through Mr McGrath applied to Magistrate Riddel 1, m Chambers, for permission to proceed against his traducer criminally. His Worship refused the apnlication because he considered sufficient evidence had not been adduced that Beeson was a man of substance, and worth' goiner for for damages. The report of this decision was published, and, strangely enough, was read by a steward m one of the Union Oo.'s steam'srs. He waited upon Pollock's solicitor, and gave what purported to be

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BEESON during the past ten years, as willbe remembered by "Truth" renders. It alleged that Beeson hart acknowledged to the steward that he bad himself been a steward on certain Atlantic liners, and at other times was. employed m a humble eapatitv m New York restaurants. Beeson put m a qualified rev>lv to rhesv statements. Upon the streneth. of this fresh evidence. Pollock ' applied for, and succeeded m obtaining "permission from Magistrate Riddell to proceed against Beeson "criminally as a person of no substance. Following on these proceedings. Beckon was charged on Monday last with publishing to Peter Heyes, Commissioner of Taxes, a letter of a defamatory nature upon Pollock.

Mr Gully, with Mr McGrath. appeared for Pollock, and explained that under the statute, he understood, no justification would be put m by the defence at the present stage, and the only evidence he would call would be to prove receipt of documents containing the alleged defamatory libel.

«. S fc « 11 He 7 es stated, m evidence, that Pollock was a clerk m the \rtvances to Settlers Office, and he (Hayes) received from Beeson the first letter complained of on .Tune is. Beeson had written previous!* on June 10, and Heyes had rc-Tiedl on June 13. All of these i. tiers were put m. but were not read. To Mr Gray. who aopearejl foe Beeson, the witness said Pollock hud been m the service of the Department for twelve months, but had neen m other departments previously. Beeson m his letters

Had pressed for an INQUIRY, and the reason why an inquiry ha* not been held was r ->t Pol lock had resigned, and had Pv^r* t r - ; ,i , no . ceedjngs. Mr Gray said he proposed to ci'l evidence of justification m the highmcourt. Beeson" would plead "Not guilty," and would reserve his .-' >- fence. .Accused was committed for tii 1, and was admitted m bail, liiiv^pH ia £150, and twva sureties of £75 oath.