EXTORTION CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1944, Page 6

EXTORTION CHARGE

Herbert Edward Holmes, 72 Maids Vale Road, Roseneath, who appeared before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, charged that with intent to extort money he threatened to accuse James Jack Duncan, manager of the Wellington branch of Macduffs, Ltd., of an offence under the Rationing Emergency Regulations, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. In a statement made by Holmes at the police station on December 17 to Constable G. A. Roge and produced in court, the 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 whom 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," the accused had stated. "Duncan refused, so I said to him, 'I know certain things that 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 realised that he was committing any offence by asking Duncan for money by threats. Detective-Sergeant E. H. Compton conducted the prosecution and Mr. F. W. Ongley appeared for Holmes.