BLACKMAILING EVIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 20 (Supplement)

BLACKMAILING EVIL.

U MENACE TO SOCIAL LIFE.

JUDGE'S STRONG REMARKS

" CANCER OF CIVILISATION."

SIX MEN SENT TO PRISON.

Blackmail, the vile and cowardly crW recently characterised by Sir Ernest Wiid K.C., the Recorder of London, as "moral murder," has been the subject o f, n . 1 other vigorous denunciation at the Old Bailey by Mr. Justice .McCardie. The offence, the judge declared was " one of the worst cancers of civilisation " and he appealed to victims of persecution co come forward so that it could ba stamped out.

Police evidence was given that blackmail was not only prevalent, but that it was actually ' increasing. The greatest difficulty in coping with it is, of course the reluctance of victims to face the publicity of prosecution;

_ Cases with which Mr. Justice McCar- " die was dealing had occurred in Hvda ' Park, a neighbourhood in which back mail is practised, at times even with robbery and assault. Others of the men - sentenced, one of whom was formerly a policeman, had posed as income tiV r inspectors and C.I.D. officials. Only a few weeks ago the Lord Chief Justice, sentencing two men at Lewes to twelve years' penal servitude each referred to blackmail as being " on the same footing as assassination," and all over the country judges have declared their determination .to exterminate th« evil. : ■ . • . a .

.The men sentenced by Mr Justim McCardie at the Old Bailey were George Robson (aged 42), miner, seven years. George Whiteside , (aged 32), traveller _ seven years. . ' William Michael Doyle (aged 39) .• labourer, four years. '* Emmanuel Jack Lelcanho (aged 20) waiter, four years, ' Sydney Sheffield (aged 20), waiter, four years; and . Charles Edward Ross (aged 43), engineer five years. '

" Cruel, Callous and Cowardly." tw\i J T tic % Mc Cardie, who declared' that blackmail was one of the foulest offences known to modern social life said:— * '

"Civilisation, has many,, cancers. -In m view, one of the worst of these is this ollence of blackmail. It is most cruel most ;callous, and cowardly. " ' ~ In . two of the cases I have just tried ' the criminals secured the name and address , of the victim in order that - they ' might pursue him to his home and preyon his fears'v and on' the fears of his ' wife, his children, his relatives and his frienas. . - J • . . . •: , " The result of this blackmail is tc inflict slow death on the victim, ,afld_tbe object is to extradt from ' his terror as much as or more money than he-can possibly afford. . "In my view this offence is on. the , increase, and the time has come when, even ;if men <; are convicted for the .first . time, . judges .should inflict : severe pun-.; ishment. The parks and streets must be made safe. Blackmail must bo stamped out,, • ; , A " For four days I have been ..sifting here trying these charges. I hope .'that those :) on . whom blackmail , is practised, ■ or against whom :it is attempted, will have -the courage to come -forward in the future and speak." . ~ Methods- of Blackmailing, Ross had attempted to extort £300 from a . .merchantby pretending to be an inspector of taxps., He: suggested that the merchant had'sent in "-incorrect income tax returns ~ which he • could put right. r!; ~ . . ; ; , r . ■ Delcanho" ; and Sheffield'had attempted to blackmail .a major, and : the judge.said he believed they were skilful criminals of . the younger blackmailing school. .. ,T 'Bolt )son,,- Whiteside, and a'Doyle,. had " blackmailed ; two men in. Hyde Park. |- Detective Inspector Bradley said Robson, while in, the Scots Guards/ wrote . to Scotland Yard that he could gi 75. information - about a system of " blackmailing iin London hotels. A man wearing uniform .. would go to various hotels Unci be -»detained; by two /men in civilian . clothes,, who j represented that , they Vera detectives. ' , Money would then be demanded . from , the» landlord, in,some! cases as much as £50, -to hush the. matter up.• '