A THREAT TO KILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 8

A THREAT TO KILL.

HUSBAND’S LETTER TO WIFE.

SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.

_, PALMERSTON N., August 1. commenced in the Supreme Court this mormng of Norman Ernest Stanley, whose occupation was given as a steward, on a charge that he sent to Mr J. I. Innes, a solicitor, a letter containing a threat that he would kill his (accused’s) wife.

In evidence the witness Innes said that on December 5 last he received a letter from the accused, sent from New York in which a threat was made by the accused that he would kill his wife and exterminate the family. Witness handed the letter to the police. A postal official produced an offensively-addressed letter from the accused to his wife. This had been opened by the department, which found that it contained a threat to kill her. Approximately 16 offensively-addressed letters from the accused were intercepted and sent back to the country of their ■origin.

The wife of the accused gave evidence that the latter left her the day following their marriage to go to his farm, which did not exist. Subsequently she received threatening letters from all over the world. A detective gave evidence the accused in a staterrent said that the letter was written in a foolish, despondent mood brought on by his deep affection for his wife, who had repelled all Lis attempts to make things up between them. The threats were not seriously meant, and he bad returned with the expressed intention of apologising. » Counsel for the defendant submitted that there was no case to answer, as the letter subject to the charge was not addressed to or received by the person against whom the threat was made. The Grown Prosecutor referred his Honor to an English decision, where the Court of Appeal held a man guilty of having sent a letter to Mr Ramsty MacDonald in which he threatened to kill the chief detective. His Honor over-ruled the objection.

The accused was found guilty and sentenceu to six months’ imprisonment on his promising to keep away frojn New Zealand after the sentence had been served.