Charles Thornton Burfield Mills (1890 - 1959)

Born 17 Nov 1890 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Zillah Blanche (George) Mills — married 21 Jan 1922 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died 18 Mar 1959 at age 68 in Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

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Biography

On 17 November 1890 Charles Thornton Burfield Mills was born. In 1937 when he was 46 years old, his birth was registered, naming his parents as Alexander Mills and Lucy Galland. ^[1] This is a curious anomaly, but is applies to all of his siblings. Possibly it reflects a decision to add Burfield as an extra middle name across of these children. However, he was already using Burfield by 1922.

30 September 1920 ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES A young man named Charles Thornton Mills was yesterday committed for trial by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., upon a charge of having obtained £40 from a fellow-worker named Henry Haynes by false pretences. It is alleged that Mills falsely represented that unless he. could pay down a deposit of £40 upon an electric motor, which he required in setting up a, small factory, he would lose the chance of obtaining the machine. Haynes advanced him the money, but the motor was not purchased ^[2]

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. ' Charles Thornton Burfield Mills pleaded not guilty to a charge of having obtained the sum of £40 from. Henry Haynes by false pretences at Wellington, on 10th September last. Mr. A. Sievwright appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. F. North was foreman of. the jury. . ; , . Mr, Macassey, for the Crown, said the circumstances of the case would show that accused had committed a very mean trick upon a man named Henry Haynes, who was employed with him at a cabinetmaker's establishment in Cuba-street. Accused, it was alleged, told Haynes that the Repatriation Department was going to grant him a loan of £500, to enable him to start in business, and his intended father-in-law had offered to guarantee the repayment, but had not got the money. Haynes then offered to guarantee the repayment, and subsequently advanced Mills £43 13s 6d on the strength of his statement that he had to pay a deposit for the purchase of a motor that he required tor the conduct of his business. Haynes never saw him again until he was arrested. When arrested, accused denied that he had made to Haynes the representations that were alleged, and that a cheque was given in view of himself and Haynes entering into partnership. For the defence, Mr. Sievwright contended that the accused had every reasonable expectation of getting an advance from the Repatriation Department, and that the £43 obtained from Haynes was, therefore, merely a civil debt. If Mr. Haynes wanted the money returned to him he should have proceeded by way of civil action. Accused made a statement from the dock on his own behalf, bearing out his counsel's statement: He contradicted the statement that Haynes had no intention of going into partnership with him. Haynes arranged with him (accused) at his house to go into partnership. Regarding the motor, there was no mention of the deposit on the motor at any time. His Honour, addressing the jury, said that the evidence of the accused given in the witness-box came into direct conflict with the evidence of Haynes. Counsel for the defence had contended that it was a civil debt. The charge was, said his Honour, that he had incurred a civil debt to Haynes by means of a swindle. "Do you see any reason to discredit the evidence that has been placed before you?" he concluded. The jury then retired. A verdict of guilty was returned after a retirement of twenty minutes. Mr. Sievwright made a brief appeal on behalf of the prisoner, against whom there were three previous convictions. His Honour (addressing prisoner) "You stand convicted of a bare-faced swindle, and there are records against you showing dishonest inclinations. . . You will be sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour." ^[3]

On 21 January 1922 Zillah Blanche George and Charles Thornton Burfield Mills were married. ^[4] The marriage was not untroubled

December 1927 - HE WENT AWAY But Found No Grist For Mills (From "N.Z. Truth's" Wanganui Rep.) Charles Thornton Mills, of Wellington, might not be so hasty next time — if there ever is a next time. Magistrate J. S. Barton and Senior Sergeant Lopdell at Wanganui the other day made that clear. Mills deserted his wife and four children at Wellington about six weeks ago and came to Wanganui with a lady assistant to help him on a canvassing mission. Before leaving, however, he had told his wife that he was going into the country to look for work. Not hearing from him, the wife issued a warrant and he was taken back to Wellington, where she consented to withdraw the information. He told her then that he had a house for her at Wanganui, that he had a good job and in a few days he would send for her. Back he came to the river city, but also brought the lady canvasser with him. When his wife and two of the youngest children arrived in due course, he took them along to a boarding-house, where incidentally, he never paid any board. About a fortnight ago he moved again without saying a word to his wife, so naturally she informed the police and the noble Charles Thornton was duly gathered in. He tried very hard in a plausible manner to put the bluff over the senior sergeant and magistrate, but failed miserably. After a couple of days' remand, they produced the uncle of the lady canvasser from Tawa Flat. He stated that she was a married woman with three children who was living apart from her husband, and earning her own living. Recently Mills was brought by the lady to his home where he stayed for several days. He had stated that he was single and that as soon as the lady canvasser could obtain a divorce he would be willing to marry her. He also posed as a man with property which he intended to realize on and buy a business, and on the strength of this, he borrowed small sums of money from the family. The uncle also had reason to believe that he had borrowed money from the lady canvasser. When it came to question time, Mills remarked that he had not posed as a single man to which the magistrate replied that even if he made that statement on oath he would not believe him. The senior sergeant and Probation Officer Ching held out little hope of Mills attempting to earn enough to keep his wife and family, who were at the time being supported by the Charitable Aid Board. The magistrate agreed and sent him along for six months, remarking that for three months at least the wife would be sure of part of his earnings in goal. A separation order was also granted the wife with maintenance at the rate of £3 5s. per week for herself and children. Mills, with a tone of remorse, turned to his wife in the box and remarked: "You know. Zillah, if I had anything you would have got it." The magistrate asked the wife if she knew that he had received sums of money from the lady canvasser's uncle and aunt, to which she gave a negative reply. ^[5]

He and Zillah reconciled and 5 more children were born over the next 9 years

On 18 March 1959 Charles Thornton Burfield Mills passed away, aged 68. ^[6] and is buried at Hamilton Park cemetery ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ NZBDM births 17/11/1890 1937/37295 Mills, Charles Thornton Burfield, Lucy Elizabeth Burfield, Alexander Charles
2. ↑ Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 79, 30 September 1920
3. ↑ Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 109, 4 November 1920
4. ↑ NZBDM marriages 21/1/1922 1922/2051 Zillah Blanche George, Charles Thornton Birfield (sic) Mills
5. ↑ NZ Truth, Issue 1151, 22 December 1927
6. ↑ NZBDM deaths 18/3/1959 1959/21887 Mills, Charles Thornton Burfield, 68Y
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #140323700