ALLEGED THREAT TO KILL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 138, 6 March 1919, Page 8

ALLEGED THREAT TO KILL

"Money or Your Life."

o A PECULIAR CASE " PAINTER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL A case of an interesting yet mystifying character was heard by Mr. P. V. Fruzer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, 1 when a middle-aged man named llichard William Martin, a foreman painter, employed by Robert Martin, Ltd., Manners 'Street, was charged with.having on February 5, 1919, sent a letter through the post threatening to kill Alexander Collins, a storeman employed by the same firm. Detective-Sergeant Cox prosecuted and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. In summarising the case, Detective Sergeant Cox said the complainant received an anonymous letter on February ji, stating that he would be killed on the Brooklyn Heights. . On February 13 he received a box of chocolates through the post and when opened it was found that the ehocplates had been saturated with nitric acid. The'package also contained a note telling Collins to give his wife some of the chocolates, and suggestng that should take some himself. Some of Collins's relatives had also received anonymous letters, which evidently came from-the same .person as those received by Collins himself. . The various letters contained the skull and orossbones sign. Accused had been in the employ of Eobert Martin, Ltd., for twelve years.

Alexander Collins, storeman in the employ of Robert Martin, Ltd., residing at Brooklyn, said lie had been with the firm for about nine years. For a period of about three years he had been receiving anonymous letters. The average was about one a month at first, but during the past twelve months they had been more frequent. Allegations were made against his moral character at first, then followed demands for money, after which the terms of the missives became threat-' ening. Some of the letters ho received by post, but others were left on the counter at Martin's shop. In October last he received a letter, demanding that a sum of <£10 should be left in a horse trough. On February 5 ho was tho recipient of another letter which contained a threat to kill him, and which stated that his body would be left, on the Brooklyn Heights. The letter, which was headed "Anywhere," and 1 which was marked by the skull and crossbones at the bottom, read as follows: —"Don't think lam joking, Aliek. I will be hung for you. On the 13/2/19 you will be lying low. Give nit tho money I have asked you for, and save your life. My plans are laid, and on Brooklyn heights you will breathe your last. Probably, this is my Inst letter. 13. 13. 13. 13. Money 1 must have, or your life, and perhaps your wife." Eight days later he received a box of chocoi? l' " ccom P anictl by- a note, He noticed that the chocolates had a very' stron" smell, and had evidently beon saturated with something. The note wished him many happy returns of the day, hoped that he would enjoy the gift, anil that he would give some of the chocolates to his wife. The letter which he received on r ebruairv 5, he showed to accused, who read it carefully and expressed his horyor at the whole business. . He ako said it was a pity the person could not be found out, and asked witness to allow him to cut a strip off tho paper. This witness did. Accused said ho had taken the strip of papor because he wanted to asfii.sfc wiiness to find out where the paper came from'. "I have always been on good terms with accused," said witness, .''and 1 had no reason to suppose that he would .cause me any injury." The letter ho received so upset witness that he tendered his resignation to the firm. His wife was in poor health and the letter upset her also.

There had never been any differences between accused and himself. At various times he had discussed the question and the letters with the accl)Sfn' on two occasions suggested that the matter should be 'placed ,in the llanos of the polieo. Witness's employer had informed the police of the matter. At various times within tlio past 3 car accused had made purchases of medicines for witness's wife. Witness showed Ins letter of resignation to accused, who urged that it should not be put in. Notwithstanding the charge that had been made against Martin, witness was still on friendly terms with him, and as far as ho personally ,wa? concerned the whoie thing was a mystery. Evidence Regarding Paper,

Montagu S. Martin, managing director . -Robert, Martin, Ltd., Manners Street, said that the wages-sheet used by his firm was a special sheet, ond was riot lUy i° „„" scd b y a "y ot| ier firm. The letter to Gollnis 011 Februairy 5 was written on one of the jobbing department paysheets, and the top had been cut oft, also a. piece off the bottom. The envelope in which the letter had -been enclosed belonged lo the firm, whose name had been cut oft the back. Wages sheets were kept in . the custody of tho accused. Witness himself had received an anonymous letter two years ago. When Collins, handed in his resignation witness made inquiry a ? iif ■ I '6 l asoll i and on ascertaining it placed tho present case in the hands of the police. Some of the paper on which the letters wen;e written was similar to that used by the firm. On February 13 witness received from Collins a box of chocolates, which, were saturated with nunc acid. At 7 o'clock that evening witness was present at the search of accuseds office, and be found a bottle containing nitric acid' The bottle was on A shelt at the right-hand side, of where-ac-cused usually sat. The label on the bottle, was damp. When handling the bottle Detective-Sergeant Scott burned his lingers.

Replying to Mr. 0 Leary, witness said that othor poisons were kept in accused's ofhee, including cyanide. The firm was welt satisfied with accused as an. employee.

Gujstay -G. G. Feil, secretary and accountant to Robert Martin, Ltd., identified tho handwriting on certain of tho documents produced ns being that of ncciised. He said lie believed the paper on winch skulls and crossbones had been drawn was the same as that contained in a certain .book which witness missed lirom h\9 ofhee some months ago'. ' Daniel Cunningham, storeman, employed by Dalgety and'Os., residing at D Bruce Avenue, Brooklyn, said ho was a brother-in-law to the witness Collins, and had himself received two anonymous letters through the post, referring to Collins. The letters asked that Collins be into] med of what somebody else was fl-bout him. Witness also received a letter with a skull and orossbones upon it. and his wife also received another David Whyte liftman, employed at the bank of New South Wales Chambers, and residing at Brooklyn, said he was related by marriage to Alexander Collins. His wife had received an anonymous letter. Witness denied that tha signature on a certain message received by Collins was in his handwriting, as it purported to 1)0.

„A't ro( ' William Guymer, fruiterer, of Willis Street, stated that on the evening of February 12 someone purchased a box of chocolates from his shop. He identified the box produced, hut could not say whether accused was the man who bought

Willie Donovan, analyst at the Dominion Laboratory, deposed to examining tho box of chocolates produced, and said that they were saturated with pure nitric acid.

lo Mr. O'Leary: If the label of tho bottle had been dampened with nitric acid it. would take a little longer to dry if it bad been moistened with wilier. Waller Dinnie, handwriting expert, said he was clearly of opinion that all the documents produced were written by one and the same person, but it was obvious that efforts had been made to disguise the writing. The 1 andwriting in' tho anoimuous letters was tho sai"" as accused's proved handwriting on TTio other documents.

Detective-Sergeant Scott and Detective Torrance gave evidence as to arreting accused. Evidence was given bv Dotcc-tire-Sorpen.ilt Scott that the label of the bottlo of nitric acid was damp when fie bandied it 011 February 13, with the result that his fingers were burned. When accused was interviewed, he said he knew that the detectives desired to

see him about tho i.nonymous letters. He admitted that he possessed some nitric acid, which he had used for testing purposes, but could offer no explanation for the label becoming w.et. Accused denied all knowledge of how the letters came to be written. When charged with tho offence accused said he was innocent. Absence of Motive. "I am rather unhappy at this stage," said His Wo'rship, "as there is a total absence of motive—in fact, there is positive evidence of friendship." At tho same time, he thought he must send the accused to the Supremo Court for trial, as he could not ignore the fact that there was nitric acid on the chocolates. In addition, it would not be right for him to ignore the expert evidence as to the handwriting, and there was the circumstance of tiie paper on which the letters were written being similar to the firm's paper. There were a number of things ! in accused's favour, but he could not decide the case himself. Accused would have to go before a jury, although he felt rather unhappy in sending him there. Accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was received in the sum of .£IOO.