“MR. Z” BLACKMAILED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 9

“MR. Z” BLACKMAILED

GAOL FOR DUTCH ARTIST “Under the section of the Act under which you have been indicted the maximum penalty is five years’ penal servitude. I can imagine no worse case than yours, and that is the sentence upon you.” These words were addressed by Mr. Justice Swift at the Old Bailey recently to Hans Kuik. aged 33, a Dutch artist, whom the jury found guilty of attempting to blackmail “Mr. Z," also a Dutchman. Charged with him was his wife. Anna, aged 21. She was found not guilty. When the jury's decision was an* nounced the judge turned to her and said, “You are discharged. Is your mother here?" Mrs. Kuik, who broke down in tba. dock and sobbed bitterly, said her mother was in court. Mr. Justice Swift: Then let her com-S and take you away. Mrs. Kuik was led from the dock and met by her mother in the well of the court. They kissed each other and went out together weeping. The charge against the couple was of attempting to extert £lO4 b.v; threatening to publish letters, said to have been written to Kuik by “Mrs. Z.” the English wife of “Mr. Z," during 3, temporary infatuation. Addressing Kuik, the judge remarked, ‘The jury has found you guilty on the clearest possible evidence of the terrible crime of black. ; mail—one of the worst crimes that is known to our law.”