CHARGE OF BLACKMAIL. THE EXTRADITION OF VELTHEIM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 150, 21 December 1907, Page 7

CHARGE OF BLACKMAIL. THE EXTRADITION OF VELTHEIM.

By Tclegrapli.-rFreas Association.— Copyright, (Received December 21, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. Tho. Daily Mail states that the extradition of Vcjthoim, arrested in Paris on a charge of blackmail, has been granted. Acting upon an application for extradition mado by the British Government, Frank yon Velthsim, who shot Mr. Woolf Joel dead in Johannesburg in March, 1898, was arrested in Paris, on a charge of attempting to blackmail the dead man's brother, Mr. Solly Joel, of London. Yon Veltheim was tried at Johannesburg for the murder of Mr. Woolf Joel' at Johannesburg in 1898, but after a trial lasting eight days was acquitted. Subsequently, .however, he was expelled from the Tiansvnal. He I has" since declared Mr. Solly Joel to have* been responsible for his expulsion, and ho is now charged with endeavouring to extort from him by means of throats a sum of 400,000 francs (£16,000). Shortly, the following is tho story of the murder of Wcolf Joel:— Joel was at work, in company with a Mr. Harold Strange, when Yon Veltheim entered and demanded a largo sum from Mr. Joel, either as blackmail, or, as was alleged at tho time," for the forwarding of a plot to "remove-" President Kruger. Mr. Joel refused, and Yon Veltheim drew a revolver. Strnnge, who carried a pistol, fired at him and missed. Yon Veltheim then fired three times at Mr. Joel, inflicting fatal injuries. The murderer attempted suicide, but was seized before ho could carry out his purpose. Yon Veltheim was brought to trial in July, and after eiqat days was acquitted by the jury. The judge criticised tho verdict strongly. Yon Veltheim was immediately arrested again on the charge of blackmail. He was expelled from the Transvaal in August, and went to Dclagoa Bay, where he receivod through the post an infernal machine, by which ho was seriously injured. He returned again to tho Transvaal in December of tho same year, and was again expelled.