FRAUD AND BLACKMAIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15742, 6 February 1922, Page 6

FRAUD AND BLACKMAIL.

STRANGE FRENCH CASES

(Elec. Tel Copyright—United Press Assn 1 (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Received Feb. 6., 2.20 p.m.) PARIS, Feb. 5.

A curious blackmailing case has been revealed. 111 December, 1920, Plat el, a young sailor, donned the uniform of an army paymaster, and repeated the exploit of the cobbler of Koepenik. He called at the Ministry of Finance, and by means of forged documents secured 1,025,000 francs, allegedly to pay French troops on the Rhine. When Platcl was arrested a month later, only 60,000 francs were recovered. He confessed that be bad given 700,000 francs to Antoinette Sala. When the girl heard of Platel’s arrest she consulted friends; then fled to Spain. Each friend demanded sums ranging from 40,000 to 100,000 francs for assistance and silence. Thus 400,000 francs were disbursed. Sala opened a dressmaker’s shop in Madrid. She seemed safe until last week, when the police searched the shop and found numerous letters from Paris threatening exposure unless the money was remitted. The police told the girl sho need fear the blackmailers no longer, as they had been arrested in Paris. Sala has now been extradited, and is coming to Paris to explain whot has become of the 700,000 francs.