CASH SOUGHT BY MENACE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1929, Page 11

CASH SOUGHT BY MENACE

STRANGE AUCKLAND CASE PLAN TO SECURE “EASY MONEY” MAN REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A charge that with menaces he de« . manded £'22 10s from Samuel Arthur on June 5 with intent to steal that sum, was preferred against Claud Edgar Young, aged 26, in the Police Court today. ~ Chief-Detective Hammond said it was a peculiar case. Young once worked with Arthur when, some years ago,' they had been in the habit of taking gilds out for motor-car drives. Subsequently accused left Arthur’s employ. He conceived the idea of getting .some money out of Arthur and wrote him the following letter: “I hava been to my law ver about a separation order from my wife. I have ample proof that you have been taking her about with you while your own wife was My word, that was downright mean of you, Arthur. If I get £22 10s from you by Wednesday to pay my solicitors cost® [ won’t go any further with the matter. You are getting off light.’’ Young, added Mr. Hammond, rather than sign his own name, employed a nom de plume, giving as his address care of Parnell Post Office. The letter alse contained the following P.S.: You are a rotten devil to give my wife drink. Mrs. Arthur got possession of . the letter and wrote to the address given askin" for further particulars and asKing the writer to make an appointmenu with her. Young, still under another name, again wrote to Arthur. Mrs. Arthur was a sensible woman and handed! the letter over to her husband and the ’matter was afterwards reported to th© police. He suggested the charge might be reduced to one of attempted thert and be deaJt with by the magistrate. Young had never been in trouble pre - , vionsly. , , . Mr. Singer said Young had been in desperate straits and had been out ol work. It was only then that he devised this scheme. Arthur owed him money, but of course that did not palliate th® , The magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt, SM): This is 'bteckmail, you know. “Hardly, sir,” replied counsel. Any* way, as your Worship can see, Young is not a desperado by any means. ■The magistrate decided to remand Youn" for sentence until to-morrow so that a report might be obtained from, the probation officer m the meantime.