BLACKMAIL ALLEGATIONS
TRAVELLER FOUND NOT GUILTY. JURY RETIRES TWO HOURS. Osy A eiegra.pt!—Free* Association.) AUCKLAND, July 24. Jolm Leslie Spicer, aged 23, a traveller, was to-day found not guilty of charges of attempting to extort money by threats and of assault. His trial was concluded before Mr Justice Fair in the Supreme Oourt. Spicer was charged with attempting to blackmail his previous employer, Alfred Richard Buchanan, and with assaulting Norman Kenneth Sligo. His Honour said the jury would have to consider whether the threat alleged was such as would alarm an ordinary person of a reasonably firm mind. If Spicer believed the money was owing to him, that would bo a legal defence for demanding it. In general blackmail was a very serious and grave offence. The verdict on the charges of assault would depend on whose account of what happened they believed. After a retirement of two hours the jury found Spicer not guilty on any of the charges, and }ie was discharged.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 July 1935, Page 4
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164BLACKMAIL ALLEGATIONS Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 July 1935, Page 4
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