HARD LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 108, 16 February 1935, Page 3

HARD LABOUR.

SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS. AUCKLAND BLACKMAIL CASE. «* (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 15. A .sentence of three years’ hard labour was passed, by Mr Justice hair to-day on Alfred McDowell, a labourer, who was found guilty of blackmailing an Auckland professional man. Counsel for the prisoner said the complainant had admitted that he had been infiuenbed in continuing bis payments to the prisoner by a desire, to retrieve money previously paid. The Judge said that McDowell had been found guilty on ten counts. In respect of three of them he was liable to life imprisonment. Blackmail was a peculiarly vicious and cruel offence. Once a .victim had made a payment and committed himself in one way, he found l himself exposed to a series of threats which exposed him to torture and might ruin his character. It might he that a man of- strong character would make a stand from the beginning, but it so happened that the victim might not care to expose himself to having his character blackened, however he might clear himself. It was hard in this ease to find a redeeming feature. The prisoner was comparatively young. There was no evidence that he was under pressure or in serious want, and the money lie had secured he had wasted.