BLACKMAILER TRAPPED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 6

BLACKMAILER TRAPPED

“Mafia Erse Lodge”

Trapped by detectives after a eare-fully-thought-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 that 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 imjjrint of a monkey, the words, "Mafia Erse Lodge,” indicating an Italian secret society, and the following leaflet:

“Public 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 be adulterated with poison by agents; several other unpleasant things would happen to his shop and family; and his business would be ruined unless he took advantage of an offer of protection. The letter continued: “We will protect you from all interference for £lO per year. This offer will not be repeated. If you wish to take advantage of our offer, paste the enclosed society mark in your window immediately, and await instructions.” 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, he put in the window of his shop the “society mark.” As a 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 the boundary-stone opposite the Fan'Slash on Crow Hall Road. Behind the boundary-stone you will find further instructions hidden beneath a small stone with a cross chalked on it.” By a later post another letter, purporting to come 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 a result of this he proceeded to a boundary-stone indicated in some of the correspondence, and behind it he found another stone, chalk-marked with a 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.

After looking around, he went to the stone and picked up the piece of paper. The policemen accosted him and Henry then tried to swallow the piece of paper. It was only after a violent struggle ‘that he was prevented from doing so. Previous to this offence, Henry, who is married, with two children, and lived in one room, with a total income of 33s per week, Lad borne a good character.

In pleading for leniency. Mr. Norman 8. Harper, defending, mentioned that -Henry had been unemployed for 12 years, .His 10-year-old daughter had won a scholarship at a secondary school, and it was a great straggle 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 the serious aspect often associated with such 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 they do not seem to have Instilled very great fear into the man to whom you sent the letters.”