The case of Richard Pearse is by far the weakest of all cases about which we discussed here. I do not find any document, article in a newspaper, application for a patent, etc., regarding Pearse's planes, that can be dated before July 1906.
Tests with at least two tractor monoplanes (quite similar the one of Pearse - July 1906) had been already performed before May 1906. Both these machines had wheeled undercarriages, tractor propellers placed in front of the plane and bicycle type wheels with tires. They can be seen in
"The Detroit Free Press", Sunday, May 13, 1906, see: Scrapbooks: January 1902-December 1908 | Library of Congress
One site about Richard Pearse says:
"He kept in touch with what was happening in the world of flight by reading the magazine Scientific American."
see: Richard William Pearse - Kids - Christchurch City Libraries
So Pearse had up to date information about what was going on in the aeronautic world. He was not so isolated. His July 19, 1906 application for a patent proves just he had an idea for a flying machine, had its drawings before July 1906, and tried to get a patent for it. There is no evidence the plane in the application was already a reality and more it had already flown.