ON BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 8

ON BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

"BREATHE YOUR LAST" ALLEGED THREAT TO KILL UNUSUAL CASE •A case mysterious in charatcer and peculiar in its nature came before the Supreme Court yesterday, when a middle-aged man named Richard Willinm Martin, a foreman, painter employed by Jtobert 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 iirpi. This was the second count. The first count was sending a letter through the. post on October 13, 1918, threatening to. kill tho Mid Alexander Collins. His Honour Mr. Justice Hoslcing was on the bench. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown and Mr. 11. F. O'Leary for the accueed. Mr. D. P. Skinner was foreman of the t jury. Mr. Macassej - , in opening, 'said the oase presented some rather extraordinary circumstances. Tho accused had been employed as a foreman by Martin and Co., Ltd., for a period of twelve years. A man named Alexander Collins, also employed by Eoliert Martin and Co., Ltd., and residing in Brooklyn, had been receiving anonymous letters daring a period of three years. But only two letters wore relied upon by the prosecution—one written on October 13, 1918, and the second on February 5, 1919. The average number of theso letters received by. Collins- was at first about one a month, bat during the Inst twelve months the letters were mere frequent. At first, lallegationn were made against the moral character of Collins, then followed demands • for money, and after that the letters were of a threatening character. In tho letter of October 13 there was a trreat to kill Collins unless he deposited .£lO in a horse • trough. The other letter, dated February 5, was headed ' Anywhere," was marked by skull and crossbones at the bottom, and zead _ as follows:—"Don't think I am\ joking, Alick. I will be hung for you. On the 13/2/19 you will'be lying low. Give me the money I have asked you for and save your life. My plans are laid, nnd on Brooklyn Heights yoro will breathe your last. Probably this is my • last letter. 13, 13, 13, 13. Money I must have or yoiir life, and perhaps your wife." A week or' so later Collins received a box of chocolates, accompanied by a note. ' The chocolates had a very strong smell,- and were found to be saturated with nitric acid. The note accompanying the ■ chocolates wished Collins "Many happy returns of tho dav." What oonnected the accused with this was that a bottle of nitric acid was found in his possession. Most of tho letters wero written on the firm's paper. One was .written on pay-sheet paper specially prepared for the firm, and was kept in a drawer in charge of tho accused.

Alexander Collins, sioreman, employed by Eobert Martin, Ltd., and. residing at Brooklyn, gavo evidence similar to that tendered by him in the Lower Court. He said that he received letters generally through the post, but during the past twelve months be. had received two or three letters, which were left on the counter of tho shop. Both tlje letters relied on in the indictment were written in pencil. The letter ho received in October referred to his ponding holiday, which lie intended to spond at Plimmerton. The letter Kiid ho would not return from Plimmerton alive unless .£lO was placed in a horse trough. The note sent with the chocolates was on the box, inside. the wrapper, and besides wishing him many happy returns of tho day,- the writer of the note hoped that ho would enjoy the gift and that he would give some of tho chocolates to his wife. Witness showed somo of tho letters to the accused, who expressed his horror, and said ho would try'and help witness, to discover (he writer. Witness showed the last loffer he received to the accused, who asked permission to cut off a tiny strip of tho paper in order to try and find out where the paper came from. Since February 13 ho had not received any anonymous letters.

To Mr. O'Leary: The letters distressed him and his wife,. and this was known t<. accused. Outside of hie ramily ho had not discussed the letters ■with anyone so much' as with the accused, tic was on the frjondliesi; terms' with the accused, was still on. friendly terms with him, and had worked in fcho shop of E. Martin, Ltd., up to that morning. On one of the letters being shown to accused he suggested seeing the police. JIo showed the letters demanding money to accused, but tho latter never suggested paying mp and ending the trouble. The chocolates were bo impregnated with something that no adult person would have eaten them. Of the two letters, left in tho shop he picked up one himself, and cno was handed to him by an employee. Anyone could havo seen the letters where they wore left, and tho public also could have seen them. His wife was in delicate, health and required special medicine, which accused. obtained. If he had designs on his wife's life he c<uld have tampered with the medicine. Accused was not a frequent visitor to tho house.

Montague S. Martin, managing director of lloberfc Martin, Ltd., said the letter written to Collins on .February 5 was written on one of the firm's jobbing department pay-sheets. The envelope in which the letter had been enclosed bolonged to the firm, whose name had been cut off the back. Wages sheets were kept in the custody of the accused. The wages sheet used by the firm was specially designed, pud was not likely to be used by cny otl er firm.

To Mr. O'Leary: The accused was often out of the office. The office door was often unlocked by night. The accused's office was near the right-of-way, and anybody could get into the store supposing tlie person got under or over Hie (fares. The accused's office iras accessible to the employees of the firm and also to others. Painters used acids for testing purposes. Witness knew that the accused used nitric acid for testing purposes. The firm employed between 30 and 40 hands.

Gustav J. J. Teil, secretary md accountant to the firm of E. Martin, Ltd.. identified rame of the documents exhibited as being. in tho handwriting of the accused.

To Sir. O'Leary: Tho accused was often out of his office, and his office was accessible to members of the staff, and also to customers of tho firm, who could jet to the office without cowing into the shop.

Daniel Cunningham, brother-in-law of Collins, and employed as a ctoremnn by "Dalgety and Co.: David Whyte, aiiothor brother-in-law of Collins, and employed as a liftman in the Bank of New South Wales Chambers, and residing in Bmiben Avenue, Brooklyn; and /i!.f rod William Giiymer, fruiterer and confectioner, 2-05 Willis Street, from whom the box of chocolated was purchased in the evening of February 12 by some man, gave evidence similar to that tendered by them in the lower Court. "Willie Donovan, senior assistant in the Government Laboratory, testified to the chocolate? being saturated with nitric acid. Tho bottlo contained strong nitric acid. Tho acid was a corrosive poison, and tho smallest dose en record in kill a human being was 120 chops, which killed a child of 13 touts. Walter Dinnie, handwriting expert, gave details for his opinion Mat the anonymous letters were all wrifen liy one and the same person. ; It was obvious, in his opinion, that the letters wero all written in a- enroiiilly <Psuwied hand. He had compared the vriting in the anonymous letters with the documents admitted to be in the handwriting of the accused, and was of opinion that l)oth were written by the same person. , Mir. lO'Leary. when crossi-cxamining the witness, produced a letter wn'llcn by another pe'rson. This letter was a testimonial expressing sympathy with flic accused, and because it line! some bearing on the cuse His Houour would not- allow it Id bo used. Mr. O'Lcary explained that it came into his hands quite by chance, end us it showed 6ome similarity to the handwriting on some of the exhibits he

thought it his duty to briag it into Court. ' *

His Honour said he would adjourn the hearing to enable_ Mr. O'Lcary. to get other writing of "the same, irdividual, preferably something written hefore the trial started. If Ihis a uld not bo procured thon consideration would be given to allowing I lie letter now produced being submitted to the Court.

The hearing was accordingly adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.