BLACKMAIL ADMITTED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1930, Page 6

BLACKMAIL ADMITTED

LETTERS AT. MILTON

YOUTH DEMANDS MONEY . 7

PRETENCE TO BE SINGLE WOAUN.

—> | . COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.! ■

By Telegraph-—Press Association. 1 Dunedin, Last Night. Writing blackmailing letters was 1 ah leged against Albert George Ashton, a Milton youth, at a special sitting of the Police Court at Milton this morning. Ashton pleaded guilty and .was committed to the Supreme Court < for sentence. Ashton was charged that on or, about October 13, 1930, he did with menace demand from David. Moyes £4O with intent to steal, and that on October 8 with intent to defraud, by means of falsely representing that he was a (single woman named Violet Manton who had given birth to a child in August, 1930, and required £25 10s to pay .doctor’s and confinement expenses, did attempt to obtain from Jonathan Begg £35 10s. . i •

The prosecution was conducted 1 by Detective-Sergeant H. Russell (Dunedin) and Mr. D. J. Sumpter appeared on behalf of accused. '

Evidence was given on the Moyes charge by Lois Olive Marryatt, who was in charge of Moyes’ shop during the' latter’s absence on honeymoon. Moyes was her brother-in-law. She/received two scurrilous letters on October 6 and October 13 in which £4O was demanded. David Moyes, a bookseller and stationer, gave evidence that he had never ” had any trouble with Ashton and knfw no reason why such letters should be forwarded to him. Detective-Sergeant Russell gave evidence that in an interview in company with Constable McQuitty Ashton hihl admitted wilting and posting the letters. Witness read a statement allegedly signed by Ashton in which Ashton stated that he had asked that £4i| be paid by Moyes, in £1 and £5 notes addressed to “Peter Jones, care Milton'i post office.” He had no reason for; writing the letters except that he was! in need of money. J Ashton until recently had been en-j gaged in the Milton post office. He had ; stated that he was assisting a postal official to sort the mails and noticed a’i letter addressed to .“Peter Jones” which | he placed in his pocket and afterwards j destroyed. The contents of the reply ( advised the recipient to “call at, the I police station for the £40.” Ashton pleaded guilty and was com- 1 mitfced to the Supreme Court for sen-., tence. /

Jonathan Begg, dairy factory, manager, Alilton, gave evidence as to the receipt of a letter purporting to hare been written by a single woman named Violet Alanton, demanding £35 10s for the payment of medical and confinement expenses. . \ He had known- Ashton for a long time; he bore a good character an.d witness had been deeply shocked ,011 beixicr informed who had written the letter..

'/Detective-Sergeant Russel said Ashton had admitted writing the letter to Begg. He had admitted that the name “Violet Manton” was entirely fictitious and he did not require the money demanded for any particular purpose. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in his own recognisance of £2OO and two sureties of £lOO each. Ashton is to report twice daily to the police.