“BLACKGUARDLY CRIME”

Southland Times, Issue 22731, 6 November 1935, Page 7

“BLACKGUARDLY CRIME”

CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, November 5. “A crime of this kind is a blackguardly one and may inflict much greater suffering on the victim than the person committing it contemplates,” said Mr Justice Fair in sentencing Peggy Jackson, Mina Elizabeth Armstrong, Reginald Merton Semb and Matthew Edward Daubney for conspiracy to defraud and obtain £75 from a man whose name was suppressed. Sentence on Semb was deferred owing to counsel having applied to be heard on a motion for a re-trial on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. Jackson had resisted the temptation to join in a blackmail conspiracy for some time, said his Honour. He was convicted and fined £5O, being ordered to pay part of the costs of the prosecution and to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months. She was ordered to return £l5 to the person from whom it came. Armstrong in joining the conspiracy had acted more on impulse and was fined £2O and ordered to pay part of the costs, the money received by her to be restored. Referring to Daubney, his Honour said it was a class of crime that must be stamped out, adding: “Always during my term it will be subject to a substantial term of imprisonment.” He recognized the youth of the prisoner and the fact that he was a good worker and sentenced him to 12 months hard labour. He was ordered to restore £23 found in his possession.