EXTORTION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 October 1924, Page 7

EXTORTION.

A WOMAN CON VTG'XEi). POINT FOR APPEAL COURT. By reason of a conviction at the Supreme Court at Aucniana on )\ etliiesday, a nice point avUI lie taiien to tne court or Appeal ror decision. The conviction concerned a charge °f extortion preferred against a married woman, cena ulazina, who was committed for trial from \Vaipu. sue was represented by Mr. Northcrott, and pleaded not guilty. The facts were admitted, argument having been heard in the upstairs courtroom Before the trial commenced. Mr. Justice Herdman presided. R. N. Nitz, a gumdigger, of MangaAvai, stated in evidence that he Avon a tea-set at a bazaar as a prize for guessing the length of a piece of string. Accused’s husband also guessed the same length, but xvitness - drew out of a bat xvitli him to see avlio should take the prize. Witness Avon. Later he received two letters in Avhich lie was threatened that if he did not return the tea set to the Mangaxvai hall committee by Saturday, May 3, he Avon Id be exposed for certain (alleged) immoral relations xvith a girl aged 15 years. Later, accused admitted to witness that she had written the letters for spite. A constable was called to state that accused had made a Avritten admission concerning the two letters received by Nitz, and also one letter to the superintendent of police. She said that she did not know she Avas doing wrong in demanding the surrender of the tea-set. Mr. Northcroft contended that there xvas no proof of a crime having been committed. The Judge instructed the jury to return a. verdict of guilty, since the matter xvas a. purely technical one. The only question in dispute xvas xvhether the accused had intended to extort a tea-set. She had not attempted to get it for herself, but for the committee. His Honor could only hold that it did amount to extortion. The question would be reserved for the Court of Appeal. Without retiring the jury returned ii verdict of guilty. Prisoner was sentenced to twelx-e months' probation. Mr. Justice Herdman said the sentence would be expunged if the Court of Appeal found that no crime had been committed. Had prisoner attempted to extort money for herself she lvould lniA'o been sent to gaol. Her action was stupid and senseless.