A PECULIAR BLACKMAILING CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 11656, 17 September 1901, Page 7

A PECULIAR BLACKMAILING CASE.

In the Perth (W.A.) Police Court on .August 27 Vera Hayes was charged with attempting to extort from Mr R. A. Sholl, Deputy P.M.G. of Western Australia, £ooo as blackmail. There were two charges—one of having attempted verbally to levy blackmail, and the other of attempting to blackmail by letter. The court was crowded. Mrs Sholl, wife of the Deputy P-M.G., said that on the 14th ult. she received a letter at her house, addressed " R. A. Sholl, Esq." She opened the letter and read the contents, as Mr Sholl was at Kalgoorlie. She showed the letter to Detective Egglestone next day. The accused called at the house, and asked for Mr Shoil's address. Richard A. Sholl deposed that on the 14th August he was at Kalgoorlie. On his return he received the- letter produced from his wife. On Saturday week last, witness was visited at his office by the accused, who was shown in by the chief inspector, and asked by witness if she wished to see him. She said "Yes." Witness asked for her name, because.she had refused to give it to the chief inspector. She replied: "Vera Hayes." Witness asked: " Are you the person who has been writing letters to nie?" Accused replied "Yes." Witness then asked: "Did you write and send to me a letter demanding £300?" Accused replied "Yes." He asked: "By what right did you address such a letter to me?" Accused answered : "Because I hold your secret." Witness replied: "I have no secret. You have no right to address such letters to me." Witness then said: "In a letter you wrote me you stated that you possessed a secret in connection with the £9OO robbery at the post office." Accused.answered: "Yes, I do." _' Witness then said: "And that secret, if communicated to the police, would implicate my late son and myself in connection with that robbery?" Accused replied " Yes." Witness then said: " Miss Vera Hayes, or Miss Bursill, whichever vou are, I will not give you a single farthing, but will now give you an opportunity to tell the police all you know." Witness then gave a prearranged signal to Detective Eggleston, who was secreted within. Accused said to witness, in Egglcston's presence : " Did you get my letters?" to which witness replied: "Yes, and handed them all over, to the police"; and, turning to the detective, added: "I believe you have them?" Eggleston answered: *' Yes, I have them all." Accused was then given uito custody. Since the receipt of the first letter witness had received others in a similar hand-writing, and signed "Vera Hayes.

Mr SLoll was severely cross-examined with the view of showing that his son was not dead. In reply to questions the witness said he saw his son die, nut did not see him put in his coffin. Counsel aiked: Would you be surprised to see him come into this court? Witness: I would be surprised. I would willingly give the whole of the £9OO to see such a sight. The further hearing of the case was adjourned till next dav.