EXTORTION CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 5 (Supplement)

EXTORTION CHARGES.

FILM STARS AS VICTIMS. Xii sooner Imil justice overtaken one Daviil Harris, who hail attcmplctl to extort lnonev from the gnanlinus of .lane Withers anil Freddie Bartholomew on threats of kidnapping those stars, than news was cabled round the world of Clark Cable's being involved in n w ait's arrest on a charge of attempted blackmail.

Mr*. Violet Norton, a 47-year-old Canadian woman, was arrested and charged with attempting to obtain money from Clark liable by claiming lie was the father of her IH-yritr-old .laughter, who was born in England, and that when she saw Cable on the screen she recognised him. The woman was also indicted on charges of conspiracy and using the mails to defraud. Two private detectives and one Canadian were similarly indicted on charges of conspiracy. The trial has not vet come off.

Gable said he had never been in England and did not know the woman and had no knowledge whatever of the circumstances involved. "I first learned of these claims two years ago," the actor said. "I did not consider the matter worthy of serious action then, but now the authorities have decided to prosecute and I can only offer my fullest co-operation." He added that in 1022 and 1023 he had worked in a department store at Portland, Oregon, and as a lumberjack in the Oregon woods.

A bizarre aspect was iriven the story when the woman's counsel. Joseph Painter, demanded a blood test to determine if the woman's story were true, saying he would withdraw from the case should it be disproved.