ALLEGED BLACKMAIL.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13286, 11 December 1911, Page 2

ALLEGED BLACKMAIL.

THE LONDON CASE.

[ Press Association—Copyright, 'j

London, Dec 8. Francis Henry Page, William Gle»ilining', and Frederick Marshall, an ex-solicitor", were charged at how street with blackmailing the Countess Domain. It was alleged that £olfl> was obtained under threat that letters would be published to her annoyance written b.v Mr Dan O'Connor, late of Sydney, and one Dobbie.

Prosecuting counsel stated that the Countess Domain met John Hamilton Dobbie in Australia and New Zealand in 1599, and aisrt knew Dan O'Connor in Australia. Dobb/e in 1308 was engaged to be married, and O'Connor and the Countess wrote1 an anonymous letter, which counsel described as libellous, to Double's prospective mother-in-law, hoping to prevent tho marriage. The prisoners secured the letter and used it as a basis of blackmailing. The prisoners interviewed O'Connor and sought to induco him to incriminate the Countess, who afterwards was taken to the prisoners' office and terrified into signing four bills of exchange for £100 each, under threat of tho arrest of herself ami O'Connor. The prosecution stated that Dobbie wivs now in Australia. The Countess is reputed to bo worth £12,000 a rear.

The Countess denied that «he wrote anonymous letters to herself, and sho did not know of O'Connor writing them until afterwards.

The ease is proceeding.