ALLEGED BLACKMAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17460, 3 May 1920, Page 6

ALLEGED BLACKMAIL.

STORY OF A PLOT AND A TRAP

HIDDEN DETECTIVES.

CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG MAN

A strange story was told in the Wellington Magistrate's Court, when George Herbert Winder, 24 years of age, was charged with having with intent to extort a sum of money from Clifford Peel, accused him of having committed a crime," or, in other words, of having attempted to blackmail Peel. Detective-Sergeant Scott conducted the case far the police, and Mr. E. G. Watson appeared for the the accused. Mr. D. Jackson appeared on behalf of the accused's parents. The first witness, a girl, 17 years of age, employed as a typiste by Peel, detailed the hatching of the plot during several discussions at picture shows «nd during mealtimes. One evening when witness was working at the office, she was to scream, Winder would appear, and demand a sum of money.

. Idea from a Picture. " I asked him if that was after the style of the picture, ' De Luxe Annie,' *' said witness, "and he replied, 'Yes; that is the scheme.'" On another occasion Winder produced a revolver, and offered to let her take it to tho office. This she refused. Accused told her that he had "nwfe £3000 out of the same game in Canada." He also said he had shot a man in self-defence, with the identical revolver before her. He had also said, " If this comes off we can try it somewhere else," and had suggested a plot to trap another Wellington business man in the same manner, and a trip to Auckland later. Next morning witness told Peel, and at his dictation typed a letter to accused. On the afternoon of April 23, witness again met Winder, who took her to tea, and during the meal discussed arrangements and plans for the evening's coup. At about 8.15 p.m. she was to scream and he to dash.into tho room and demand £100 or as much as he could get. Witness was to get half the proceeds. Witness went on to describe the carrying out of tho plan. She screamed as arranged, and wjion Winder appeared he made his demand for £100. but Peel bargained him down to £50. Winder ordered her to leave the office, but Peel told her to stay where she was, and at that moment the detectives walked in. In the course of a lengthy cross-exami-nation, witness replied that the purpose of sending Winder the letter dictated by Peel was to trap him into answering by letter in order that the whole scheme might be obtained in his handwriting. She also said Peel's conduct had always been above board, and altogether what it should have been, towards her.

Scene is as Office. Th« complainant, Clifford Peel, indent •gent, gave evidenco regarding the statements mado by his typiste as to the plans, proposed by Winder. Witness communicated with Detective Carney, and on the night of April 23 Detectives Carney and Black came to his office. They were stationed in the outer office, and the typiste and witness were in the private office. At 8.15 p.m. tho <jirl jscreamed as arranged, and witness switched the light off. - At that moment accused rushed into the office and said: "This is a nice btate of affairs!" and later, "I have come to rescue this girl from you. You are an utter blackguard; such men as you should be put out of the country." Witness smiled and asked what ho intended to do, to which accused replied that ho would telephone the police unless witness made compensation to the girl. witness advised him to go ahead, but after going to the telephone Winder said: "I will give you till 8.30 to decide whether you are going to compensate the girl or whether you are going to gaol; a place where you should have been long ago. Witness asked him whether he thought it could not be settled, and accused answered that ho thought it could— £100. Accused first said that he wanted tho money, but when questioned said the money was for the girl. In the end he an reed to take £50. and a cheque was ni»d« out to "G. Brown," the name given by accused. Exchange of Blows. Winder (continued witness) gave his word of honour that would say no more of the matter. Witness then gave accused two minutes to leave the office, and when Winder insisted on taking tho girl with him mi argument occurred. Winder struck at him, the blow was returned, and the police walked in. Peel flatly denied that he had struck Winder after the latter had been handcuffed, but he had sinick him before tho detectives entered, and he hit him hard, so that Winder staggered back eight feet. He admitted he had done everything he could to trap Winder once the plot had been exposed to him. Det'«tivo Carney said accused made a statement that the typiste had told him she was frightened of going back to work, and ho had offered to protect her. On the afternoon of April 23 the girl had given him to understand that she was going back to work, and was somewhat frightened as to what might occur. He then said that he would call at the office in case of need, and added, "If Peel is a had egg we might as well get something out of him."

When charged with having attempted to extort money from Peel by accusing him of a crime, Winder had replied. "Righto, I did . at; that is quite right." The case was not concluded.