BLACKMAIL ALLEGATION

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1929, Page 11

BLACKMAIL ALLEGATION

INTENT TO STEAL CHARGED EFFORTS TO SELL “LETTERS.” MYSTERIOUS TALKS ON PHONE. By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, East Night. Charges of demanding £7 and £2 10s with menaces at Auckland on July 17 and July 20 with intent to steal, were preferred in the Police Court to-day against Harry Cooper Douglas, aged 57. a railway employee. Several telephone conversations with an unknown man were related by complainant, a resident of Grey Lynn. He said that on July 7 he received a telephone message in which a man said he had a number of letters written by witness’ wife to a business man in Auckland. The man also stated Ire had photographs of this other man leaving witness’ home, and other photographs The voice suggested that witness would like the letters to be made public or produced in the event of divorce proceedings. On witness’ inquiring who the man on the telephone was he received no reply. The man said some expense would be entailed in obtaining the letters. Later the man said he now had the letters and £7 would be required to obtain them from him. Witness finally agreed to send his assistant to meet the man in the Palmerston Buildings, the assistant to carry a piece of paper in Kis hand so that the unknown man would know who he was. The price fixed that day was £2 10s. The assistant in evidence said that after waiting for some minutes in the Palmerston Buildings, he was- approached by accused, who asked what he wanted. Witness said: “I do not know; somebody is to give me some papers.” Accused had then asked if he had anything for him. Witness said he had not and asked the man to ring complainant to see what witness was to do next. Witness said accused walked out and returned about five minutes later. Accused said his “bosses were very hard and he could not get the papers.” He said their offices were in the Phoenix Chambers next door and that the papers were to go in at twelve o’clock. By that witness took him to mean that they were to be handed to solicitors. Accused said he would mislay them and that he would send them to complainant for nothing. Witness left him then.

Detective-Sergeant Doyle, wno apprehended accused after his meeting with complainant’s assistant, said that at the police station accused made a statement in which he admitted ringing complainant on the telephone, but stating that he had been acting for another man with whom he had previously worked. This man had at first asked £7 and had then stated he would take £2 10s for the letters, as he was out of employment. ■ Accused had further stated he did not know where the other, man was at present nor where he lived. The reason he had taken an interest in the matter was because he knew complainant and his family. Accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. No application for bail’ was made.