IMPRINT OF MONKEY

Opunake Times, 8 January 1935, Page 3

IMPRINT OF MONKEY

THREATENING LETTERS POLICE IN AMBUSH Trapped by detectives alter a careiuiiy thougni out, out unsuccessful, attempt at Artliur Henry, 42, brass-finisher, 01 Eelling-on-Tyue, pieaded u /l‘ ty at Huriiam Assizes to demanding money by menaces l roiU Dominic Dragone, a young Italian ice-cream vendor and confectioner, oi High Street, Eelling'An unusual feature of the pu® e was that the men were probably only known to one another by sight. Through the post Dragone received a letter in block letters, bearing a rubber stamp imprint of a monkey, the words “ilaha Erse Lodge,’ indicating an Italian secret society, and the following leaflet: , ‘‘Public warned. Dragone s ices will be injected with poison after August 25. By order, Mafia.” , | . The writer suggested, explained Mr Dennis Hobson, prosecuting, that the leaflet would be widely circulated; the milk Dragone used would be adulterated with poison; several other unpleasant things would happm •<> his shop and family; and his business would bo ruined ruless he took advantage of an oiler ul protection. The letter continued: “We will protect you from all •interference for =£lo per year. This offei will not be repeated. If you wish to take advantage of our offer, paste the enclosed society mark in your window immediately, and ( await instructions.” ( Consulted Police at Onie (

To some people, comxrented counsel, such, a • coimmmciation might have had somewhat serious results, but fortunately Dra-g-one took it straight to po* lice.

Then, acting- on their instructions, he put in the windowof his shop the “society mark,” As a result he received on the following- day a further letter. Headed “Mafia, Erse Lodge,— Submit or suffer,” it told iim to take ten £1 notes,-and, go to the boundary stone opposite the Fan Blast, on Crow Hall Hoad. Behind the boundary stone you wilt find further instructions hidden beneath a small • stone vith a cross chalked on it.“

By a later post another letter purporting to come from the police headquarters at Gateshead, reached Dragone. In that, communication, which was in ordinary handwriting and was marked “Confidential,” leference was made* to “certain malefactors operating in Gateshead and the surrounding dis-

tricts, ’' ami stating that Dragone was “among the prospective victims.”

Following police" instructions, Dragone went to a certain telephone box, where he found a note awaiting Tiim. As a result of this he proceeded to a boundary stone indicated in some of the correspondence, ancf behind it be found another stone, chalk marked with a cross. But instead of putting- ten £1 notes beneath this stone, Dragone left a piece of paper, I* wo policement were in ambush near the scene, and when Dragone had walked away Henry came along. Violent Struggle..

After looking- around, he went

to the stoue and picked up the piece of paper. The oplicemen accosted him, and Henry tried hard to swallow the piece of pap >r. It was only after a violent struggle that he was prevented from doing so. Previous to this offence, Henry who is married, with two children. and lived in one room, with a, total income of 33s per week, had home a good character.

In pleading for leniency, Mr Norman S. Harper, defending, mentioned tliat Henry had been unemployed for 12 years.

Hiß 1G year old daughter had won a scholarship at a secondary school, and it was the great struggle to keen up appearances that prompted Henrv to commit himself.

Passing sentence of four months’ imprisonment, Mr Justice Porter agreed that the case did not have the serious aspect often associated with such prosecutions, but at the same time blackmail must always he regard ed as a serious offence. “I do not know where you get your methods from,” the 'Judge told Henry, ‘hut fortunately they do not seem to have instilled very great fear into the man to whom you sent the letters.”