Witness then received the following letter, dated May 18:
"My dear friend Eddie, "I am writing this letter to let you know that I am in a hell of a fix andi and have to beat ft out of town, I am going to Tsingtao, but keep this mum pro tem. If anything should happen about the Great Eastern, show this letter to the Dean and ask limy to help you out, as you all trusted me and never expected this thing to coma off. I am writing this-to say that Mr. Edward John Allan, Mrs. Maksakova, and (Mrs, Ivonova have nothing whatsoever to do with these debts or the cheques issued. They were all under the impression that said things were true. They are absolutely innocent of anything at all. I am tha one to blame. As black as IT am play the game with my friends and I do not wish innocent people to suffer, "Ted old man, I am sorry, and I hope you will all forgive me, old man. Keep this, and I hope you will not think too bad of me, as T have played. the game by writing this letter, and God knows that. you are all innocent.
"T remain your sincere pal "Thomas Edward Mellows"'
Witness went on to say that on receipt of this letter he communica ated with the police and an officer called at the hotel and took away: three dresses.
Questioned by accused, witness admitted that his own debts werd paid with the $200 accused borrowed, but it had been verbally: agreed that accused would be responsible from the time of witness''s engagement as manager of the cinema. He would not hava handed over the money but for the documents which accused showed to him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.