CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21399, 15 February 1935, Page 9

CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL

YOUNG MAN ON TRIAL AT AUCKLAND SUM OF £407 INVOLVED (PHIS 8 i»BOCUTIOM TBLKOBiIi.) AUCKLAND, February 14. The allegation that he had blackmailed an Auckland professional man over a period of several months, was made against Alfred McDowell, aged 26 years, a salesman, who was put on trial in the Supreme Court to-day. There are 10 charges of demanding money ■ by menaces, and three of accusing his victim of an indecent offence, with intent to extort money. The sum involved in the charges is £407, but it was stated in evidence by the alleged victim that the sums of money he lent or paid out under alleged threats exceeded £llOO in a period of about two years. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr V. R. Meredith) told the jury 'that whether the person blackmailed was guilty or not of the offence of which he was accused did not affect the position. The victim could not go. into any de-

fence of the allegations made against him, for that matter was not being investigated. In this case, a loan was first made by the victim, and after further 'sums had been lent, the accusation of an indecent offence was made. Mr Meredith referred to the mass of correspondence which followed the accusation and said its tone was threatening, and coupled with the threats were demands for money. The victim eventually , consulted a solicitor and stopped payments. Then a significant thing happened: the police received two anonymous letters casting reflections on the victim. Complainant's Evidence The alleged victim of blackmail, in evidence, said he had employed the accused on a farm property about seven or eight years ago. About the time the accused left that employment, he asked the witness for money to pay doctors who were treating him- The accused told the witness that he was to get money from his parents, who lived in Ireland, and who were w° r th about £BOOO. The witness lent him £lO or £ls in the first place. Later, he advanced further sums on the understanding that he was to be repaid, and also bought the accused a ticket to go to Australia to collect money which had been sent to him there, "A threat was made that he would accuse me of committing a crime," the witness said. "At that time the accused was owing me about £SOO. I merely said to him when he made the accusation that it was absolutely false. I was naturally afraid of the publicity that, it would involve, and as I thought the money was coming to repay me, I lent him more money,"

Letters Read by Witness No more money was given the accused after about July, 1934. Letters which he had received in August last year were then read by the witness. There were suggestions in these letters that unless the witness sent the accused money, either for himself or to pay his dents, then both of them might find themselves in prison, the accused for debt, and the witness for an, unnatural offence. The witness said he had paid about £BOO between September, 1933, and August, 1934. He had obtained an 1.0. U. from the accused for £3OO, which had been lent until September, 1933. He had given the accused more money to keep him afloat. No evidence was called by the defence. In addressing the jury, Mr Noble, for the accused, submitted that there was no indication of a menace in the letters, nor was there any evidence that the 1 aceused had intended to steal money. Mr Justice Fair said there was no suggestion of any kind against the character of the complainant, and the allegations made by the accused did not eoncero the case. The jury {ound the accused guilty on three charges of extortion, and en seven charges of demanding money by "menaces. On the remaining counts he was found not guilty. Sentence was postponed,