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Correspondence from Rubina Stansfeld Jones to Gerald Yorke
13 June 1950
Dear Mr. Yorke,
Yours of the 23rd of May received yesterday. Thanks for the copies of letters, but please don't bother to send anything more, Charles [Charles Stansfeld Jones] kept copies of practically all his letters.
I think we had better understand one another on several points. To begin—in 1910, before Charles left England to come to Canada, he made a Will—simple and to the point, he left everything he had or hoped to acquire to me, unconditionally, and made me sole executrix; our marriage lasted nearly forty-three years, and during that time many changes could have been made had my late husband so desired; this same Will has been through Probate, so I think I may claim ownership to anything Charles left behind.
He was in touch with you over a period of time and showed little inclination or intention of sending you certain things you now seem to desire. I am an old woman, sixty-three, and a little tired; we have lived a strange life and a not wholly pleasant or happy one during the years of A∴A∴ activity. After the break with A.C. (Charles was treated disgracefully over the whole matter, especially by those to whom he had given unstintingly of his time and knowledge) we began a better, cleaner mode of life. We returned to England in 1927, and after three years decided to come again to British Columbia. For the last fifteen and a half years we have been living happily in this truly beautiful spot—surrounded by mountains—our home is located on the side of a hill overlooking the water, with an ever-changing view—we have all kinds of boating, fishing, etc., a year-round ski camp a few miles behind us, and friendly, kindly people for neighbours.
Now I think it slightly presumptuous for you to suggest sending anyone to my home to sort my late husband's personal papers, but you must indeed be ignorant of many happenings in the past 'set-up' to suggest one Wilfred Talbot Smith as a like "snooper", pardon the word. Not only would I not care to put him up, I would be inclined to ask for police protection if I saw him hanging around. I am quite serious about this. Smith is taboo.
Perhaps these papers, books, etc. are important to you; they mean nothing to me in your sense of the word. I am not inclined to sell them and this is not because I have any money of my own, nor did Charles leave me any. We have no debts and of course, own our home which is comfortable, and we have everything for our needs and use. My daughter is keeping me and our your adopted son Anthony, he will be sixteen in August.
Dr. Kowal [John P. Kowal] and Mr. A. H. Handel [Albert H. Handel] are very good friends of ours and have been so for over a period of years. I would not wish them to be worried over any material I may have or have not.
Just in passing, the name is Stansfeld, not Stansfield.
I am not trying to be difficult just out of pure 'cussedness', I merely wish to be allowed to live my own life—what there is left of it—in my own quiet way and by the Grace of Almighty God, to do the right thing.
Yours very truly,
PRUDENCE R. STANSFELD JONES
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