BLACKMAILERMURDERERS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1928, Page 8

BLACKMAILERMURDERERS

BRIGHTON GANG’S HISTORY. £SOO TOR SILENCE. BRIGHTON Aug. 9. The three Brighton murderers, Taylor, Weaver and Donovan, whoso appeals against the sentences of death passed on them at the last Lewes Assizes were dismissed by the Court of Appeal, are •known to have been leaders of a notorious gang of blaiek mailers which has operated on the downs and the Brighton front for the last live years. Brighton police had long been aware of the way the gang worked, but its victims were always reluctant to come forward and give evidence, and this saved it from exposure. The fact that the assault on Mr Friend Smith, for whose murder the three men were convicted, began while ho was walking along the sea-front immediately led the police to suspect the gang. It was Detective-Sergeant Wells and Sergeant Cyril Beer who discovered that Taylor, Weaver, and Donovan were seen in Mr. Smith’s company on the night of the assault. SCARED VICTIMS. The police have evidence to show that they tried to blackmail Mr. Smith, as they had many other people. ()ne victim fell into the gang’s clutches on Brighton front. He was stopped one night by a man who asked for a light for Iris cigarette, went to a ■public-house.’-for a drink, and was introduced to other members of the gang. A few nights later two of the condemned men called at his house and accused him of having been discovered in ‘compromising circumstances. He was "asked” to pay £10 : if he did not wish his relations to be told of his association with the gang. So seared was this victim that he paid m all £3OO, and was still being asked for money up to the time of the arrest of the three .men.

"LIFE A NIGHTMARE.” Immediately the trial as over, when I was leaving the courthouse at Lewes a well-known resident stopped me and asked what the result was. "When 1 told of the murder verdict he said: “Well! I cannot feel sorry. They have hied me white. I have paid considerably more than £SOO for their silence on a matter of which I was entirely innocent. Life has been a nightmare to me for years. “Whenever they were .short of cash they came to ire for money. When at last I • could give no more and threatened to expose them and put up with the consequence, they laughed; and said: ‘IN) your worst.»People will say, Why did he pay ?’ ”