THREE YEARS’ JAIL

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 15

THREE YEARS’ JAIL

Penalty For Blackmail

By. Association.

. • Auckland, February 15. A ./sentence'-.of .; .three -.i.'year.sr...■'imprisonment. ; with hard labour was passed by- ; Mr. Justice’-'Fair toMay on Altlretl McDowell, ; labourer, who" was; found guilty of blackmailing an Auckland profeSsional-iiian.;!/ ■

~ Counsel for that com-; plainant had admitted Tie had been influence! In continuing his payments to prisoner by a desire" to' receive the -money previously paid. THis Honour said that McDowell had been found guilty, on teii,forints antl.in respect of three-of them lie was liable to’ life imprisonment/ /Blackmail/wris a peculiarly vicious and cruel-' Offence. Once the victim had niade payment and' had committed himself in-, one way he .found, himself exposed .to a series of tlireats whicli exposed him ,to torture and might, ruin his character. It riiight he that a man. of- strong clia racier would make a. stand from the beginning, lint' it so happened that the victim- might not- 1 care to expose,.himself to hitying his character blackened'; It was tiifli<?ult in this case to find a redeeming feature, The prisoner .was' pbmiiaraiively young,, there, was. no' ‘‘evidence; that he. was under pressure or jin-serious want, and the money he secured he bad wasted. , _ ... \