Person Page - 84

From the Adelaide "News", 20th December 1927
     Mrs. Eliza Teresa Williams, aged 35 years, of Angas street, Goodwood, a sister of the late William E. P. Haines, was killed by a motor car driven by Mr. B. 0. Shipway, butcher's assistant, of Cambridge terrace, Malvern, in Avenue road, Avenue Park, at 9 o'clock this morning.
     She was on her way to visit a sister, who lives in Cabra, and accepted a ride down Avenue road from Mr. V. Munn, of Rozells avenue, Colonel Light Gardens, who was driving a van for Mr. E. Rix, baker, of Glandore.
     Avenue road is only 22 ft. wide. After the van stopped Mrs. Williams walked round the back to cut through a paddock to get to the home of her sister in Alexander avenue. Just as she cleared the van she was struck by the
other vehicle, the property of Mr. L. H. Parker, butcher, of Avenue Park.
     Constable J. W. Corner, of Colonel Light Gardens, and Dr. M. Schneider were summoned, but Mrs. Williams was dead.
     Death was due to a fractured skull. The body was conveyed to the morgue by Constable Corner, who is preparing a report for the Coroner.³

An allegation that he had black-mailed his mother-in-law was made against Matthew Mark Haines, of Stopford Road, Brighton, when he appeared before Mr. Muirhead, P.M., in the Adelaide Police Court yesterday. The charge was that, on April 25, at Brighton, he sent a letter to Hannah Banks demanding money with menaces and without any reasonable or proper cause. Haines, who was undefended, was committed for trial and was allowed bail in a bond of £30. Mr. Muirhead said that he felt it his duty to commit the defendant for trial but how far the papers went he could not say. Explaining the nature of the evidence he intended to call, Police Prosecutor Crafter said that Mrs. Banks, who lived at Wallaroo, was a widow, her age being 66 years. Her husband, George Henry Millard Banks, used to be employed at the Fertiliser works at Wallaroo, and he died on September 30 1934. The defendant married the only daughter of Mrs. Banks in April, 1927 being then employed by James Marshall and Co. On several occasions Mrs. Banks had visited her daughter and given her food, clothing and money. Since his marriage, Haines had borrowed money from Mr. and Mrs. Banks, the total amount being about £200, and not any of it had been repaid.
About two years ago the defendant saw Mrs. Banks at Wallaroo and asked for a loan of £60, the prosecutor continued. She refused to give it to him realising that she was getting up in years and must keep something for her future support. The defendant wrote a letter to Mrs. Banks on July 7, 1937, in which he said. "For the third and last time I appeal to you to do something for Hilda (his wife) and the kiddies." He mentioned that, had she listened to his appeal about two years ago, she would have had her money back by now. He finished the letter as follows:-"I have things my way a bit and might use it, you know. Think hard and say 'Yes or no,' otherwise I am going to get desperate and that would not improve things one way or the other.'" On April 25 he wrote, saying that he wanted £45 or £50. which at 5 per cent., would mean £2 10/ a year, double the bank interest. He continued, "You can believe me, it is the last time you will be able to please yourself. Desperate circumstances mean desperate deeds, and one never knows where it might lead. I am not putting a gun at your head or am I going to cringe or crawl. In a nutshell, what I want is enough to pay our debts ... and a clean free mind from all worry and a fresh start. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. One might forgive, but one can't forget. I have everything written down from August, 1931, as regards things.
On May 7 Haines sent a postcard to his mother-in-law on which he had written:-"I will teach the children to hate your very name." On May 19 he wrote another postcard on which he had pasted a news paragraph. He said, "This may interest you. It fits your daughter to a T. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. You had better come down. Answer yes or no." On May 26 another postcard arrived. On it he asked Mrs. Banks if she relished having the chance of turning "our Hell into a Heaven." and in red ink he wrote "Matthew 5-40. The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding small." In a document dated May 30 he wrote. "Once the lid is off, well good-bye to your peace of mind." On May 31 Mrs. Banks dictated a letter to her son to be sent to the defendant, telling him that she was unable to assist him. On June 2 the defendant wrote that he was still waiting for an answer and, if it were not received by Saturday, there would be no need to answer. On June 3 he acknowledged receipt of the letter of May 31, stating. "Well, you can go a few more restful sleeps because I have not quite decided what I am going to do. I have no alternative but to go the whole hog." Regarding a threat that she would have to report the matter to the police if his demands did not cease, he said, "You would not have a leg to stand on. I am not a complete fool: I know the law, but my dear, think of the publicity: Why, you would play right into my hands."
On June 7 Detective Grow saw the defendant, who admitted having writ ten the letters, said the Prosecutor. He told the officer that Mrs. Banks had spent £70 on a tombstone for her husband's grave, but would not give anything to her children. He thought that if he put something like that in a letter, she might lend him the money he required. He had been in poor circumstances. "Irrespective of his financial position there are proper means to go about these matters." said the Prosecutor. "Had he approached Mrs. Banks in a proper manner she may have assisted him." Giving evidence regarding the effect the letters had had on her, Mrs. Banks said she thought that some harm would be done to her, or her daughter and children. Her health had been affected by them. Detective Grow said that, after showing Haines the letters at the Museum, where he was employed, the defendant said. "I am within the law. I only wanted to borrow the money and not for her to give it to me." Regarding the use of the word "desperate", Haines said "I only put that there in the hope that she would lend me the money. Now that she has told you people I would not take her money." The witness remarked that it appeared to him that Haines had an axe to grind over the matter of the tombstone. The defendant, in an unsworn statement, said that for about three years he had had in mind Mrs. Banks's treatment of her daughter. Mrs. Banks had never put herself out one bit. If she had allowed them 5/ a week every six months it would have been enough to have kept Hilda and the children in clothes and other household effects and they would not have slipped back like they had. At the time he had asked for help they were on relief. Only a few shillings had been received from Mrs. Banks. He related the hardships he and his wife and children had suffered for some years, and stated how his appeals for help had been disregarded when he and his family were in destitute circumstances.²