GAOL FOR BLACKMAILER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1929, Page 10

GAOL FOR BLACKMAILER

“LAW MUST BE MERCILESS” Doiicrlbhig blackmail as a “foul and hldemm" offoimo, Mr. Justice McCardlo, ill, the Old Biilloy, sentenced a young HcotWimil, Malcolm Macdonald, who wim guilty of thin crime, to ten yours’ pomd umwltmlo. At Um sumo limn bln lordship commmidod llm pi'iawiHiiorti, iw<> in numbm', who Imd llm oonriigo to come forWiird Wild imlp tirn polico Io (nip their pm'uemdor.. Their imnum wore kept til llm IriuL One of the hlimk'rmillm''M vhdlnm was n, retii'ed tiHiiUnn of Iho Royal Air EoiTm while the otlwr wim a vaiot to it amitlmimn with h hornm in London and eslalHM in 800 l land. Altogether tmoimed rmudvod only £2 in iiddilion Io ii fow artloloa ho

imd fitohm. Ho mmlo vllo iillogntions agalimt tho two mon, which wore proved to Im tilmoluloly himoloim, Mr. Percival Uhirko. proao’cutlng, said that the retired 11.A.F, oflleor was a married mini living in Kent. Ho found on April 9 that hie clgurotto and card cahon and nomo lottorn had

been stolen, lie wnn lunching nt bls club the next day when Macdonald, in the name of HuyOH, telephoned that ho had the things and promised to return thorn for £3 and the £2 which was in the case. The officer foolishly telegraphed £5

to Macdonald at the Edgware Road - Post Office. The tilings were not returned, and he informed the police. He received on April 15 the letters and a note from Macdonald on a tele- . graph form saying that he could have the cases if he paid another £3. Acting on the advice of Detective- ’ Sergeant Sands, of Vine Street, the officer sent a telegram to Macdonald at Knightsbridge Post Office. He Saw there Macdonald, who said his name was Jones. Sergeant Sands said: “I believe your names is Hayes.” The man then bolted, but he was caught and charged. Macdonald later made a serious allegation against the character of the officer. Macdonald had sold the cases on April 9 for 22/6. Mr. Clarke, outlining the second case said that the valet was looking in a shop near Oxford Circus When Mac-

donald spoke to him, saying he had just come from Dundee and did not know where to go. The valet, with mistaken kindness, invited Macdonald to ]iis house, and on leaving Macdonald threatened to inform his employer and to “bring the house down” unless he was paid £5.. ■

The valet gave him the money and followed to give him in charge, but the policeman was not at the place where he expected to see him. The jury found Macdonald guilty on both charges. Mr, Justice McCardie, passing sen-

tence, observed that Macdonald had been found guilty of blackmail, and there was no fouler, no more callous, and no more cruel offence. “It has sapped and wrecked many a home,” the judge proceeded, “and driven many a man and woman to suicide. In my opinion blackmail is more rife than people think. I am glad that the prosecutors in these two cases have had the courage to come forward and help to vindicate the law.” Turning to accused, the judge added: “Against each of these two highly respectable men you have employed the foul weapon of the blackmailer, by charging each of them with improper conduct. The law, in my view, must be merciless to secure the suppression of this hideous offence. You will go to penal servitude for ten years.” ' , Macdonald seemed dazed by the sentence. ♦