RARE CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20539, 14 February 1935, Page 9

RARE CHARGE.

Blackmail Alleged in Auckland. YOUNG MAN ON TRIAL. SUM or £llOO SAID TO BE INVOLVED. Per Praas Association. AUCKLAND, This Day. The allegation that he had blackmailed an Auckland professional man over a period of several months was made against Alfred M'Dowell, aged twenty-six years, a salesman, who was put on trial in the Supreme Court today. There are ten charges of demanding money by menaces, and three of accusing his victim of an indecent offence, with intent to extort money. The sum involved in the charges is I £407, but it was stated in evidence by I the alleged victim that the sums of | money he lent or paid out under alleged threats exceeded £llOO in a period of about two years. The Crown Prosecutor told the jury that whether the person blackmailed was guilty or not of the offence of which he was accused did not affect the position. The victim could not go into any defence of the allegations made against him, for that matter was not being investigated. In this case, a loan was first made by the victim, and after further sums had been lent, the accusation of an indecent offence was made. Mr Meredith referred to the mass of correspondence which followed the accusation, and said its tone was threatening. and coupled with the threats were demands for money. The victim eventually consulted a solicitor and stopped payments. Then a significant thing happened: the police received two anonymous letters casting reflections on the victim. (Proceeding.)