ATTEMPTED BLACKMAIL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1931, Page 3

ATTEMPTED BLACKMAIL

ANGLICAN BISHOP AS VICTIM. YOUTH’S REMARKABLE ACTION. Sydney, June 3. The story of how a youth attempted to blackmail the Anglican Bishop of Goulburn (Dr. Radford) was unfolded at the Goulburn Quarter Sessions when Edwin Cosmo de Satge was bound over to be of good behaviour for three years, and to come up for sentence when called upon. It was related in court that de Satge went to Goulburn with two girls, and that he had approached Dr. Radfjrd, saying that he had seen him visiting a flat at Parsley Bay, Sydney, and threatening to expose him unless £lOO was forthcoming. “You have a mother who, I have no doubt, was very good to you all your life, In return for that you have committed the most despicable crime in the whole criminal code, not even excepting murder,” Judge Coyle told the accused, who pleaded guilty. Dr. Radford,, giving evidence, said that he wished to say publicly that he had nothing to hide, disguise' or explain. “Four days ago,” he added, “de Satge wrote me a straightforward letter, in which he said that ho was profoundly sorry for his unwarranted conduct, and that whatever was coming to. him. he was determined to make good. If he is pleading guilty, and it is a question of assessing his guilt, I would like to say that I believe that he is the least guilty of those concerned in the matter.”

Judge Coyle said that he had received a letter in the same strain as that received by the Bishop. Sergeant Thornley said that he had known de Satge for five years, and that he had borne a splendid character. His Honour: “How, then, do you account for this?” “I am convinced that those she-devils put him up to it,” replied the sergeant. “They drugged him with gin and sent him to the Bishop. Actually these girls came to victimise a squatter. I have been told that one of the girls attempted to borrow £lO from a man in Rose Bay on the pretence that she was going to be married in oulburn. The idea was to get this squatter ia a position so that they could blackmail him.” His Honour (to accused): “I have read your letter, and I agree with the Bishop. It has a ring of sincerity about it. You chose the vilest means of extorting money, and you chose a man who has not a spot on his character as your victim. That in itself shows that you are not the real type of blackmailer. In view of your temerity hi trying to put this silly tale over such a man as Dr. Radford it convinces me tl '■ you were guilty of 4 very stupid act.”