ARMY MAN BLACKMAILED

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1927, Page 7

ARMY MAN BLACKMAILED

INVEIGLED INTO BEDROOM LONDON’S VERMIN PROFIT , THREATS EXTRACT £lO.OOO By Telegraph —Press Assn. —Copyright. Received April 7, 5.5 p.m. London, April fl. One of the most amazing eases in the history of blackmailing was revealed at Bow Street, when four men were charged with obtaining £10.859 from a retired army captain, whose name was not disclosed. After a theatre party, the captain was inveigled into a bedroom in London, where two men immediately secured £5O from him, under threat of calling in the police. Thenceforward others of the gang secured blackmail, one £95 for a passage to Algeria, and another £l2O on the plea of his wife being ill, then £2OO for his wife’s funeral. The demands for expenses continued throughout 1925, including £lOO passage money for two men to Australia. Finally, a so-called detective named Lynch appeared and philanthropically promised to deal with the blackmailers, but quickly demanded £llOO and then £2OOO, until the cheques aggregated £lO,OOO. The case was adjourned.