EXTORTION ATTEMPT ALLEGED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 97, 20 January 1944, Page 3

EXTORTION ATTEMPT ALLEGED

Crane Driver For Trial

ACCUSATION AGAINST BUSINESS MAN A charge of threatening, with intent to extort money, to accuse the manager of the Wellington branch of Macduffs Ltd., with disposing of silk stockings on a black market, was brought against Herbert Edward ’Holmes, crane driver, aged 35, in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. He denied the charge and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. ' James Jack Dunean, branch manager of Macduffs Ltd.. Cuba Street, said that on December 17 Holmes introduced himself to witness as witness was returning to his office from the shop. Sitting in Witness’s office, Holmes said he was hard up and wanted a few pounds, to which witness replied that he neither borrowed nor lent. After referring to staff trouble in the firm recently, by which witness presumed he meant some dismissals. Holmes said, “Well, now, I have something on you, and unless you pay up I will put the screw on you and out you go.” Witness called a floor superintendent, whom he asked to remain with his caller, went to the office of the general manager, Mr. Stratmore, and told him briefly what had occurred. Mr. Stratmore returned with witness and appeared to have seen accused before. It was discovered that Holmes had been on the staff. Witness repeated the threat that Holmes had made and accused agreed that he had said it. Mr. Stratmore told the man that be was committing blackmail and rang for the police. After two constables had arrived Holmes said, the matter was one between him and witness personally, but he refused to expose, at witness’s suggestion, whatever he had on his mind- in the presence of the police or the general manager. The policemen and the general manager withdrew from the room. ‘ - Silk Stockings. "He then stated,” said witness, “that silk stockings were being sold across the bar of the .Royal Oak Hotel, and that I supplied the hosiery, that I had been seen handing over the parcel, and that unless I paid up I knew what the result would be. He made no mention of a particular sum.” Witness denied that he had had any dealings in silk stockings with a barman at the hotel except with the barman as a customer of the shop. When he had sold the barman stockings the barman had produced* coupons and paid the full'price, except on one occasion foil a cheap type of stocking witness had provided a clothing coupon. Witness denied having ever sold stockings to a tramwayman. James Daniel Hughes, barman at the hotel, said be received two pairs of stockings from an employee of Macduffs, paying the full price and giving coupons. Later he asked for more and was referred tooDuncau. He obtained three pairs from Duncan, for two of which witness provided the coupons and for one of which Duncan provided coupons. In August accused asked- witness if he could get him some stockings, but he was unable to get the size Holmes wanted.. He had never sold stockings over the bar. In a statement, made by Holmes at the police station on December Iff to Constable G. A. ißose, one of the two constables called to the shop, accused said that three or four months previously he was told by a motorman that hosiery could be obtained at the Royal Oak Hotel, the motorman speaking to the •barman about it for him and pointing out as the man who brought the stockings into the hotel a man whojn accused knew to’be the manager of Macduffs. “Today I thought it would be' a good idea if I went to Mr. Duncan and asked him for some money, and if he refused I would tell him. I knew he was black-marketing hosiery,”'accused had stated. “Duncan refused, so I said to him, ‘I know certain things-have transpired at the Royal Oak Hotel, and that if you do not give me a few quid I will reveal them.’” He was not going to do anything about it if Duncan had.given him the money. He had not realized that he was committing any offe.nce by asking Duncan for money by threats. Mr. Stout, S.M., was on the Bench. Detective-Sergeant E. H. Compton conducted the prosecution and Mr. F, W. Ongley appeared for Holmes.