IMPRINT OF MONKEY

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 14 (Supplement)

IMPRINT OF MONKEY

Writer Trapped by Police in Ambush. Threatening Letters and a Symbol.

Trapped by detectives after a oare-fully-t'hought-out, but unsuccessful, attempt at blackmail, Arthur Henry, 42, brass-finisher, of Felling-on-Tyne, pleaded guilty at Durham Assizes to demanding money by menaces from Dominic Dragone, a young Italian icecream vendor and confectioner, of High Street, Felling. An unusual feature of the case was th§t the men were probably only known to one another by sight. Through the post Dragone received a letter in block letters, bearing a rubber stamp imprint of a monkey, the words, "Mafia Erse Lodge," indicating an Italian secret society, and the following leaflet: “ Publio warned. Dragone’s Ices will be injected with poison after August 25. By order, Mafia.” The writer suggested, explained Mr Dennis Robson, prosecuting, that the leaflet would be widely circulated; the milk Dragone used would he adulterated with poison by agents; several other unpleasant things would happen to his shop and family; and his business would lie ruined unless he toOk advantage of an offer of protection. The letter continued: “We will protect you fro'm all interference for £lO per year. This offer will not he repealed. If you wish to take advantage of our offer, paste the enclosed society mark in your window immediately, .and await instructions.” Consulted Poll.ee at Once. To some people, commented counsel, such a communication might have had somewhat serious results, but fortunately Dragone took it straight to the police. Then, acting on their instructions, lie put in the window of his shop the “■society mark.” As the result he received on the following day a further letter. Headed “ Mafia, Erse Lodge,—Submit or Suffer," it told him to take ten £1 notes, and go to Ihe boundarystone opposite the Fan Rlast, on Crow 1 Hall Road. Behind Iho boundarystone you will find further instructions hidden beneath a small stone with a cross chalked, on il."

By a later post another letter. purporting lo conic from the police head-

quarters at Gateshead, reached Dragone. In that communication, which was in ordinary handwriting and was marked Confidential,” reference was made to “ certain malefactors operating in Gateshead and the surrounding districts,” and stating that Dragone was " among the prospective victims.” Following police Instructions, Dragone went to a certain telephone-box, where he found a note awaiting him. As the result of this 'he proceeded to a boundary-stone Indicated in some of the correspondence, and behind it he found another stone, chalkmarked with ‘3. cross. But instead of putting ten £1 notes beneath this stone, Dragone left a piece of paper. Two policemen were in ambush near the scene, and when Dragone had walked away Henry came along. Arrested After Violent Struggle. After looking around, he went to tho stone and picked up the piece of paper. The policemen accosted him, and Henry then tried Lo swallow the piece of-'paper. IL was only after a violent struggle that he was provented from doing so. Previous Lo this offence, Henry, who is married, with two children, and lived in one room, with a total income of 33s per week, had borne a good character. In pleading for leniency, Mr Norman S. Harper, defending, mentioned that Henry had been unemployed for 12 years.. His" 16-ycar-old daughter had won a scholarship at a secondary school, and it was the great 'struggle to keep up appearances that prompted Henry to commit himself. Passing sentence of four months’ imprisonment, Mr Justice Porter agreed that the case did not have t.he serious aspect often associated with sucli prosecutions, but at the same time blackmail must always be regarded as a serious offence. “ I do not know where you got your methods from." the judge told Henry, “ but fortunately Ihcy do not seem to have instilled very greal fear into Iho man to whom you sent Hie inters.”