"THIS IS BLACKMAIL."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 6

"THIS IS BLACKMAIL."

A PECULIAR CASE.

WIFE BEADS HUSBAND'S LETTER. WRITER APPEARS IN COURT. Tliis is a tale of a letter which was meant for the husband, but was read by the wife. The contents of the epistle brought trouble and worry to several people, but particularly to Claude Edgar Young (26), a motor driver.

When Young penned a letter to Samuel Arthur on June 5 little did he think that the contents would be made public or that it would result in his appearance at the Police Court this morning on a charge which, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., said, amounted to blackmail.

Young was charged that, with menaces, he did demand £22 10/ from Arthur with intent to steal this sum.

Mr. Singer represented Young,

"This is a peculiar case, sir," said Chief Detective Hammond. "Young once worked with Arthur when, some years ago, they had been in the habit of taking girls out for motor car drives. Subsequently accused left Arthur's employ. He conceived the idea of getting some easy money out of Arthur and wrote him the following letter: —"I have been to my lawyer about a separation ordei from my wife. I have ample proof that you have been taking her about with you while your own wife was absent. My word, that was down-right mean of you, Arthur! If I get £22 10/ from you by Wednesday to pay niy solicitor's costs, I won't go any further with the matter. You are getting off light."

Young, added Mr. Hammond, rather than sign his own name, employed a nom do plume, giving as his address care of the Parnell Post Office. The letter also contained the following: —P.S. "You are a rotten devil to give my wife drink."

"Mrs. Arthur got possession of the letter and wrote to the address given, asking for further particulars and asking the writer to make an appointment with her," said Mr. Hammond. "Young, still under another name, again wrote to Arthur. Mrs. Arthur was a sensible woman to hand the letter over to her husband, and the matter was afterwards reported to us."

Mr. Hammond said Young was not strong. He suggested that the charge might be reduced to one of attempted theft and be dealt with by the magistrate. Young had never been in any trouble previously.

Mr. Singer said Young had been in desperate straits and had been out of work. It was only then that he devised this scheme. Arthur owed him some money, but of course that did not palliate the offence.

Mr. Hunt: This is blackmail, you know, Mr. Singer.

"Hardly, sir," replied counsel. "Anyway, as your Worship can see, Young \i not a desperado bv any means." (Laughter.)

Mr. Hunt decided to remand Young for sentence until to-morrow so that a report might be obtained from the probation officer in the meantime.