ATTEMPT TO GET MONEY FROM HAIRDRESSER

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 91, 28 November 1928, Page 5

ATTEMPT TO GET MONEY FROM HAIRDRESSER

VERY CLOSE TO } DELIBERATE BLACKMAIL TWO PEOPLE m COURT. HAIR CUT IN BEDROOM. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. A strange case was before Mr E. 1). Mosley, S.M., to-day. Sybil Louisa Penbertliy and Valentine Abraham, Beaumont were charged that, on Octobe* 27, lf>2B, they obinined money by finlposing on Arthur James Inkslier with falsto representation. The story told by Inkst'er was that he was a hairdresser, and that the female accused, whom he knew well, came to the tenement where he lodged to have her hair cut. This was done in his bedroom. The woman stayed only Hong enough for the cutting of her hair and they parted on excellent terms, no impropriety having taken place. Beaumont came to see him some tim e later and sard Sybil Penberthy was pregnant. Beaumont demanded £2O to pay for an illegal operation. Inkster had not'

the m'oney, but after repeated requests he gave him £5, his wages for that week. He was so worried by Beaumont's demands that he attempted suicide. WISHED TO FIIIIGHTEN HDL' A statement made by Penberthy was real. She stated that Ingster grappled, with her in his bedroom, but nothing came of it. She wished t'o frighten Inkster and suggested |Beaumont should tell him she was pregnant and get some money out iof him for an illegal operation. She was not in fact pregnant and no arrangements had been made for such an operation. Beaumont, in a statement 1 to the police, said he believed PenbiGJrthy was pregnant and had seen Inkster on her behalf. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. The magistrate said he did not consider the case cue of deliberate blackmail, but it had approached very ctose to it' and had serious consequences, as Inkster bad attempted suicide owing to the worry. The woman was neurotic but it was incomprehensible that Beaumont should have been such tool. If he thought it was 'deliberate blackmail both the accused would be sent to prison, in spite of the woman's delicate health. The woman was the worst offender, and he had little sympathy for her. Penberthy was fined £lO, in default 1 one month's imprisonment. Beaumont was fined £5. An application for the suppression of the names of the accused was refused. J^'ltil