EXTORTION CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 6

EXTORTION CHARGE

ALLEGATION OF

THREAT Charged that with intent to extort money from James Jack Duncan he threatened to. accuse the latter with an offence under the Rationing Emergency Regulations, 1942, Herbert Edward Holmes, 72 Maida Vale Roa.d, Roseneath, appeared before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today. _ _ ' Duncan, branch manager of Macduff s Ltd.,-Cuba Street branch, said that on December 17, 1943, he met the accused in the shop and, after the latter said lie would like to have a few words, invited him into his office. The accused, saying he was hard up, said he wanted a few pounds. - Duncan refused to give them, and to a further request again refused. "After a moment's pause he referred to -recent staff trouble," said witness. "I said there had been trouble. 'Well now/ he said, 'I have something on you, and unless you pay up I'll put the screw on you and out you'll go.'" Duncan then went to the general manager, Mr. G. M. Stratmore, and told him of the visit. Mr. Stratmore returned with him to the office and recognised that the accused had formerly been on the staff: The police were called, but after discussion they and Mr. Stratmore remained outside while witness and the'accused had a talk. "The accused," said witness, "again stating that he was hard up, stated that there was silk hosiery being sold across the bar of the Royal Oak Hotel, and that I supplied the hosiery, that I had been seen handing over the parcels, and that unless I paid up I knew what the result would be. He made no mention of any sum." Witness said he had had dealings with a barman, of the Royal Oak Hotel, but only as a customer in the shop. He had supplied hosiery but only at the full price and with .the acceptance of coupons. Witness told the accused his conscience was perfectly clear and asked what the accused was going to do. "He then said, 'They've seen you handing i over the parcels.' I said, 'Who are they?' and he said a couple of tramwaymen. He then said, "They may have mistaken you. for someone else.'' I said, 'Don't put that over. They can't I be rhistaking me for anyone else.'" James Daniel Hughes, barman, Royal Oak Hotel, said that about six months ago he had asked Duncan if he could provide him with stockings. He had received three pairs from Duncan, for which he paid the full price. He had given coupons for two pairs and for the other pajr Duncan had supplied the coupons. About last August witness met the accused who asked if he could be /upplied with stockings. A, week later the accused saw him again. and witness told him that he could not get any. He had never sold stockings over the bar and had not seen the accused since August. Detective-Sergeant Compton prosecuted for the police..

SOLDIERS FOR HARVESTING Bound ior Timaru to take part in harvesting work, a party of 110 soldiers from Auckland passed through Wellington today on their way south. A.bout half of them have been harvesting in; the Auckland and Waikato districts. They are the first'to be sent from the North Island for this work.