The story of Thomas Walter Ford is made a slightly difficult one to research in "Papers Past" due to his father having the same name. And it is the father who begins this story. His son, in some of his court appearances, is described as being the child of a broken home. And indeed he was - his father broke it when Thomas junior was eleven.
MARITAL TROUBLES
DIVORCES GRANTED.
A number of applications for dissolution of marriage, on the ground of desertion in most cases and of adultery in one, were heard before His Honor Mr Justice Reed in the Supreme Court this morning.
FORD v. FORD. ‘
Mary Ann Ford v. Thomas Walter Ford. — A petition for divorce, on the ground of adultery. Mr B. S. Irwin, for the petitioner, said that the parties were married on January 3, 1912. There were three children. Ford was a dairy farmer at Leith Valley, and also carried on the business of a milk vendor. Within the last twelve months the petitioner had had reason to become suspicious of Ford's conduct. In spite of the fact that he had to commence work very early in the morning, he went out every evening, and was sometimes absent all night. Inquiries were made, and it was found that Ford was in the habit of going out to the Flat, and was keeping company with a Miss Clark. On two consecutive nights Ford and the girl Clark had stayed at a boarding-house at South Dunedin. The petitioner had found a doctor’s certificate in Ford’s pocket to the effect that a Miss Clark, was pregnant.
The petitioner gave evidence. After learning of respondent's misconduct, she had left home as quickly as possible with the three children. Since then she had received £7 a fortnight from Ford's solicitor. He had told her that he would bring Miss Clark into the house directly she left.
Elizabeth Morris said she resided at Atkinson street, South Dunedin. She knew a Miss Clark, and was a friend of her family. Alisa Clark was living at witness's house from Christmas time up to about six weeks ago. A Mr Ford used to call on her nearly every night at witness’s house. Witness understood that Ford and Miss Clark were engaged to be married. Dr Evans visited Miss Clark once at witness’s house and examined her. The doctor gave a certificate which witness saw. Miss Clark was now housekeeping for Ford at Woodhaugh. Witness had seen her there.
Catherine Heffernan also gave evidence. She said that she kept a boarding-house in Cargill road. She remembered a couple coming to the house in March last. The girl said that her name was Ford. They stayed for two nights. Ford told witness that they had been put out of their home, and that they would he obliged if she could put them up for a couple of nights. The girl with Ford wore a wedding ring.
His Honor: Did they occupy the same room?
Witness: Yes.
His Honor: That is enough.
A decree nisi was granted, with leave to make it absolute at the end of three months. The petitioner was granted the custody of the children, and the respondent was given the right of reasonable access to them. Costs on the lowest scale were allowed against the respondent. -Evening Star, 14/5/1924.
Shortly after the divorce, Thomas' father took up the Termius Hotel, Outram. It would seem that Thomas stayed with his mother. His teenage years were not without brushes with the law.
“He is nineteen years of age at the end of the month, and his mother says he is beyond control,” said Senior sergeant Cameron in respect to Thomas Walter Ford, who was charged at the Police Court this morning with converting to his own use, but not so as to be guilty of theft, a motor cycle, valued at £30, the property of Alexander Hay. The senior sergeant said that the accused had been found riding an unlightcd motor cycle in Hanover street last night by Constable Crosbie, who then ascertained that it was a cycle that had been reported missing earlier in the evening. He said that the accused admitted a number of similar charges and also petty thefts, and on the application of the senior sergeant a remand was granted until Monday next, the accused to be kept in custody but apart from the other prisoners. -Evening Star, 15/9/1931.
POLICE COURT
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.)
CONVERSION OF CARS. On six charges of illegal conversion of motor vehicles and three charges of theft, Thomas Walter Ford, aged nineteen years, appeared for sentence. Chief-detective Quartermain said the conversions had been made in company with juveniles, who had indulged in joy rides within a few miles of the city. Five cars and a motor cycle had been converted. Ford had also stolen a hat from a city hall, and the other charges wore of thefts from motor cars. Ford had been in trouble before, and had been placed under the control of the child welfare officer. His mother had little control over him. Mr J. Lock said accused's conduct while under his supervision had been satisfactory.
Mr White said Ford had not had the best of chances, and a blood disease, which had affected his heart, had prevented his retaining his employment. Idle hands had got him into mischief. Although numerous, the offences were not of serious crime; there were no burglaries, with which conversion crimes were usually associated, while the thefts wore petty. He asked for leniency. The Magistrate said the offences were not isolated or spread over a few days. One had to take into consideration the fact that offences of this nature were extremely difficult to detect, and that there should be some deterrent. He was very doubtful as to whether this was a case for probation; he did not think it was. Accused would be further remanded till Friday in custody, an order being made for Ford to be kept apart from the other prisoners. -Evening Star, 21/9/1931.
POLICE COURT
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25. [(Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.)
GRANTED PROBATION.
Thomas Walter Ford appeared for sentence on six charges of converting motor vehicles to his own use and on three charges of theft. He was represented by Mr C. J. L. White. After perusing the probation officer's report the Magistrate said that when the case was before him on Monday last he stated that he did not consider it a case for probation. The probation officer had furnished a full report and had made inquiries from a friend of the family who was prepared to look after the boy. Another person was prepared to provide work for him. The boy's home life had not been good, and His Worship proposed to grant him one further chance. On the first charge ot conversion he would be convicted and admitted to probation for a period of three years on stringent conditions. On each of the other charges he would be convicted and ordered to come up tor sentence if called on at any time within three years. -Evening Star, 25/9/1931.
LICENSEE AND SON FINED IN COURT
CHARGES HEARD YESTERDAY BEFORE MR E. C. LEVVEY, S.M.
At yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Rangiora, before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., Thomas Walter Ford was fined £6 and ordered to pay costs for supplying liquor after hours, being a person other than the licensee, and Walter Ford, licensee of the New Ashley Hotel, was fined £2 and ordered to pay costs on a charge of selling liquor after hours. Mr A. C. Fraser appeared for both the defendants. For the police Constable J. P. Simmonds said that Walter Ford was the father of the first defendant, and had been ill for some time, necessitating his son to act as barman. As far as the police were concerned they had received no complaints about the hotel and the licensee bore a good record. They had been instructed not to press for a heavy penalty. Mr Fraser said that when the liquor was supplied it was early in the evening and the customers were quite sober when served. His first client was sorry for the act and Mr Fraser asked for a light penalty. -North Canterbury Gazette, 1/9/1938.
CITY POLICE COURT
Monday, July 15 (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.)
Alleged Breaking and Entering
Thomas Walter Ford, Cyril Evans and Michael Fitzgerald were charged with breaking and entering the premises of Sargood, Son and Ewen on May 26 and stealing 13 pairs of shoes, valued at £l5. — On the application of Detective Sergeant Hall, who said that several other charges would be preferred against the accused, they were remanded to July 22. -Otago Daily Times, 16/7/1940.
POLICE COURT
FRIDAY, JULY 26. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle. S.M.)
BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGE.
Thomas Walter Ford (28), Michael Fitzgerald (34), and Cyril Evans (28), were charged with on or about June 30 breaking and entering the warehouse of Sargood, Son, and Ewen, and stealing clothing and shoes valued at £23 4s.
Ford and Evans were represented by Mr C. J. L. White, and Fitzgerald by Mr O. G. Stevens.
Formal evidence that the goods which were the subject of the charge were missed from the stock was given by James Diehl, a foreman packer in the employ of the complainant firm, and Arthur Gill, manager of the firm’s clothing factory.
Detective R. J. A. Berry gave evidence of having interviewed Ford, who was wearing a pair of shoes which witness identified as being similar to a pair stolen from Sargood, Son, and Ewen’s factory. Witness examined them, and the accused admitted stealing them. When accused’s house was searched, clothing was found which he said he had stolen from Sargood, Son, and Ewen’s factory. At the accused Evans’s home, clothing and shoes were found which the accused admitted had been stolen. The witness was giving evidence as to having gone to the home of the accused Fitzgerald, and the court then adjourned until the afternoon. -Evening Star, 26/7/1940.
Thomas was sentenced to a year's reformative detention.
VICTIM OF BLAZE
MAN INCINERATED AND PARK STAND GUTTED
VALUABLE MACHINERY DESTROYED HEAVY LOSS TO CITY
A partially-incinerated body was discovered by the police in the smouldering remains of the main Logan Park grandstand, which was completely destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. It was found on the site of what was a small room used for storing oil and petrol. It is surmised that the man accidentally ignited some of it and was trapped by the flames. A motor car was found by the police yesterday morning in the roadway leading to the Fever Hospital at the back of the stand. In the rear of the car were a number of tins suitable for holding petrol. The ownership of the car has been established as belonging to the relative of a man who has been missing from his home since yesterday morning, and who has since not returned.
There were some 39 gallons of petrol stored under the stand when it ignited, and this, together with some fuel oil, intensified the blaze at the commencement. The remains of the body were found lying over the top of a petrol tin, and it is assumed this accounted for its charred state. Beside the body was a piece of zip fastener and a petrol lighter. The presumed driver of the ear, when last seen, was wearing a zip fastener, and it is known that he generally used a petrol lighter. The assumption at this early date is that the man accidentally ignited the fumes of the petrol within the confined space of the small room in which it was stored, and was then unable to make his way to safety. An inquest will be held tomorrow.
WRAPPED IN FLAMES. It is understood that the fire was first noticed from the Fever Hospital shortly after 6 a.m., and a call was sent to the Central Fire Station. When machines arrived on the scene, however, the whole building was wrapped in flames, and so intense was the heat brigadesmen had to stand at a distance to play the leads of water on to it. Only a few leads could be operated at once, and any attempt to save the building was hopeless. With the destruction of this stand, the second largest in the city, with seating accommodation for 3,300 people, there passes an historic landmark, as it was a relic of the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition.
The loss of the stand to the city is a severe one, but the greatest loss is represented in the equipment which was housed in various parts of the basement, and constituted a large portion of the reserves department’s material. There were three or four power tractors, a similar number of motor mowers of various types, a large truck, and a car which belonged to one of the employees. There were also small lawn mowers, tools of various kinds, harrows, etc., netting and coils of wire, piles of iron hurdles, and turnstiles. Under a tangled mass of iron and wreckage these valuable pieces of machinery, etc., are now simply heaps of twisted metal. Among them also is an old army gun, apparently a relic of the last war.
The loss of the reserves equipment right at the commencement of the season is a very serious one, for the bulk of it will not be duplicated in a hurry. It was all urgently required for cutting the rapid spring growth on the various parks. This is only one feature of the loss sustained by the city. The other is the building. Over 300 ft long, it cannot be replaced at anywhere near what the City Council paid for it. However, when rebuilding is contemplated it is doubtful if such a big stand will be visualised.
STADIUM FOR EXHIBITION. The Logan Park stand was originally constructed as an open-air stadium during the Exhibition, at the close of which it was purchased by the City Council for the sum of £1,300. This was on November 17, 1926. The stadium was then facing into the hill and slightly towards the Fever Hospital. The task of turning it round was entrusted to Messrs William McLellan Ltd. To do so the company had to bend rails, and wheeled trolleys were placed under the building and on the rails. It was gradually swung round, over a large open culvert, to its present site. The job occupied some weeks. In 1928 the City Council decided to roof the building, and tenders were let tor this work, and the construction of dressing rooms and conveniences underneath. The work was completed in July, 1928, at a cost of £2,630.
However, that was not the end of the expense to the city, for on October 20, 1931, during the course of a high gale, it was unroofed, and this was replaced at a further cost of £134. Insurance on the building in the council’s own insurance scheme totalled £3,500, while the truck was insured for £280. All the other machinery units were insured, but until a complete list is drawn up of exactly what was stored in the basement, no definite figure is available. The superintendent of reserves has yet to submit the list to the City Council.
Built almost entirely of wood, except for a few strengthening tie rods, and the concrete pillars in front, which also carried an iron girder, the building burned like a box, and this morning its remains presented an indescribable picture of twisted roofing iron and ruined machinery, with here and there a piece of charred timber. At the rear of the stand and near the turnstiles is a small shed, one wall of which is completely charred through. Had the wind been from the north instead of the southeast it would have been quickly devoured by the flames.
The heat from the blaze was so intense that the picket fence which runs round the playing field in front of the stand has been badly scorched, while the little ironwork standing was twisted into all manner of grotesque shapes.
The fire has meant a serious loss to the Albion Cricket Club, which stored all its equipment in the basement. Bats, pads, wickets, nets, matting, and other gear to the value of £100 were destroyed.
There was no insurance on the private motor car stored in the pavilion basement. -Evening Star, 15/9/1941.
LOGAN PARK GRAND STAND DESTROYED BY FIRE—The ruins of the Logan Park main grand stand, in which the charred body of a man was discovered after the stand had been destroyed by fire on Sunday morning. In the foreground can be seen the remains of a truck and one of the tractors which were also destroyed. -Otago Daily Times, 16/9/1941.
LOGAN PARK FIRE
INQUEST ON VICTIM
OPEN VERDICT RETURNED
CORPORATION'S LAXITY
COMMENT BY CORONER
Comment that the City Corporation had shown considerable laxity in allowing petrol to be stored under the main grand stand at Logan Park was made yesterday by the coroner (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Thomas Walter Ford, aged 29, whose remains were found in the debris of the fire which destroyed the grand stand on the morning of Sunday, September 14. The evidence of 10 witnesses was heard, and the coroner found that the deceased had died from asphyxia and shock in an accidental fire in the grand stand at Logan Park. Detective Sergeant Hall represented the police, and Mr C. J. L. White appeared on behalf of the relatives of the deceased.
The first witness was Dr E. F. D'Ath, professor of pathology at the Otago University, who said that from his examination of the remains he was of the opinion that they were those of a male person of slight build and medium height, and that death was due to asphyxia and shock.
Stand Securely Locked James Knox, caretaker of Logan Park, said that on Saturday, September 13, the Association football ground had been in use for a match. No fires had been in use for shower bath purposes. When everyone left witness locked up the grand stand. He was with the players underneath the stand. None of the doors at the rear of the stand were open during the afternoon. When he left about 5.30 everything was in order. All the doors were securely locked, and there was no trace of fire in the building. All the lights had been switched off. Witness did not return to the ground until 6.25 a.m. on the following day. Witness described how he and Detective McDougall had examined a body which had been found in the debris. It was lying in what had been the petrol storeroom, and was at the most distant wall from the door. It was lying across a four-gallon petrol tin. There had been several such tins in the storeroom. The petrol storeroom had only one means of entrance, and this was a door opening from the rear of the stand. There were no other doors and no windows in the room, which had a concrete floor, wooden walls, and an iron roof, and no electric light.
"In this room," witness said, "there had been a large 44-gallon petrol drum containing 39 gallons of petrol. It stood on a frame just in front of where the body was found. The position of the body would have been consistent with the man's having fallen back from this drum. The storeroom was approximately 12 feet by 6 feet in size. No person had any authority to be in the storeroom. As far as I know, there had been no cigarette lighters left in the room. To get into the room, it would have been necessary to force the door as this had been locked by a bolt and a Yale padlock. The bolt did not fit into a metal hasp, but into a hole bored into the wooden door jam.
"I do not know," witness added. "whether the City Corporation was in possession of a licence permitting it to store petrol underneath the Logan Park grand stand."
To Mr White: The room underneath the stand had been used as a store for petrol for about 12 or 13 years. Witness had the only key for it.
Widow's Statement Nessie Ford, widow of Thomas Walter Ford, said that for some time her husband had been in the habit of using his mother's Buick sedan motor car. On Saturday, September 13, he drove witness to the Town Hall dance, at midnight they went on to a party at a house in Carroll street. Liquor was consumed at the party, and about 4.15 a.m., witness and her husband left in company with some friends. Her husband dropped all the passengers in various parts of the city, and witness and he drove home. Her husband had had a few drinks, but he knew what he was doing. When they went inside he changed his clothes and then went out to the car, saying that he proposed to take it to a garage. Witness did not see him again. The cigarette lighter shown her by the police had belonged to her husband, and he had a belt with a buckle similar to the one produced.
To Mr White: Her husband told her that he had changed into old clothes so that he could attend to something under the car. He said nothing about going to Logan Park.
Agnes Eleanor Finnie, cook, employed at the Fever Hospital, described how on her way from her home to the hospital about 5.40 a.m. on September 14, she passed behind the Logan Park grand stand, and had seen no sign of fire or smoke about the stand. She noticed a large sedan motor car parked on the hospital road near the bridge. She did not seen anyone about the car and there were no lights on it.
William John Foote, a labourer, residing at 243 Hanover street, said that when he arrived home from work at 5.30 p.m. on September 12 he noticed two petrol tins inside his gate, and he was subsequently told by Ford that he proposed to collect them later on. The tins, which were similar to those witness had been shown at the detective office, were later removed.
Finding of Body Charles William Nepean Ingram, station officsr at the Central Fire Station, described how he had found the body during damping-down operations. The body was badly burned, there being no legs or arms. The position of the body would have been consistent with a man's having fallen back from the 44-gallon drum.
Evidence regarding the fire itself was given by Frederick Cowen Laidlaw, superintendent of the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Cyril John Ernest Darracott, treasurer of the Albion-Y.M.C.A. Cricket Club, gave evidence that, as a result of the fire the club had lost equipment valued at £l4l 12s. The material was insured for £80.
Evidence of the loss suffered by the City Corporation was given by Francis Robert Grindley, chief clerk in the employ of the corporation. Witness said that the replacement value of the equipment destroyed in the fire was £2648. The total cost of the grand stand was £3900.
Replying to Mr White, witness said he had no knowledge of the quantity of petrol usually stored under the stand. The risk of ignition from a cigarette butt or something similar had never been considered by the City Council.
To the coroner: The decision as to the quantity of petrol to be kept under the stand would lie with the superintendent of reserves.
No Storage Licence Francis George Thomson, inspector of dangerous goods for the city of Dunedin, said he was unaware that petrol had been stored under the grand stand at Logan Park. He was under the impression that the Reserves Department drew its supplies of petrol from the Works or the Electrical Department's depots. There was no licence in existence permitting the storage of any petrol underneath the Logan Park grand stand. A licence would not have been granted had application been made, unless the petrol were contained in a specially-constructed depot.
To Mr White: The maximum amount of petrol that could be stored for resale, without a licence was three gallons, but an ordinary consumer could keep 8 1/2 gallons without a licence so long as it was contained in proper receptacles.
Mr White: Obviously a grand stand was not a proper place for the storage of petrol?
Witness: Not unless there was a proper store for it, and even then it would not be very satisfactory unless it were fireproof.
Replying to the coroner, witness said that the Reserves Department drew petrol for its cars and trucks from the Electrical Department's pump in Ward street, or from the Works Department's store. He understood that the implements at Logan Park were used not only for that area, but for other reserves as well.
"As controlling authority, the City Corporation should be above suspicion," the coroner remarked. "You should see that all petrol belonging to the corporation is properly stored."
Witness: I thought I had done this, but if any department stores spirit and withholds the knowledge from me, I am powerless.
James Knox, recalled, said that supplies of petrol for a mower used on the oval were drawn from Logan Park. One 44-gallon drum of petrol was kept under the grand stand, and when it was empty witness had it refilled. When the fire broke out the drum would be nearly full. Witness was not aware that there was any objection, to its being stored there. There had never been any leak or drip from the drum.
Laxity Alleged The coroner returned a verdict that the deceased died from asphyxia and shock in an accidental fire in the grand stand at Logan Park.
"I do not propose to discuss the matter further." his Worship added, "but there is one aspect which I think it proper for the court to mention. It behoves the City Corporation, as the licensing authority under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act, to show an example in the storage of dangerous goods, which include petrol.
"There seems to have been considerable laxity in storing petrol in a grand stand which sat times was occupied by a large number of people," Mr Bundle continued. "Since the matter has been brought under the notice of the corporation by the police, it is not likely that there will be a recurrence, and any further storage of petrol will no doubt be carried out in a proper manner. It is somewhat strange, however, that the governing authority should have been so careless, and that no one seemed to be exactly responsible."
Detective Sergeant Hall said he had been given to understand that there would be no further trouble of that kind. The coroner observed that it was possible other organisations as well as the City Council night be lax in the storage of petrol. -Otago Daily Times, 7/10/1941.
In Memoriam
FORD. — In loving memory of Thomas Walter Ford, who died September, 1941. To memory ever dear. — Inserted by his loving wife, Nessie, wee Lorraine, and sister-in-law, Ruby. -Evening Star, 18/9/1943.
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