FOUL BLACKMAIL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4699, 16 May 1924, Page 2

FOUL BLACKMAIL.

SENTENCES IN ENGLAND. VIEWS OF MR. JUSTICE McCARDIE After sentencing six men to terms of penal servitude for blackmail Mr Justice McCardie, at the Old Bailey, said : “Civilisation has many cancers. In my view one of the worst of those cancers is this offence of blackmail. It is most cruel, must callous, and cowardly. 1 observe that in two >f the eases I have just tried the criminals were careful to get the name and address of the victim. They got that name and address in order that they might pursue the victim to his home and prey upon his fears an 1 upon the fears of his wife, his children, hi.s relatives, and his friends. “The result of this blackmail is to inflict slow death upon the victim, and the object is to extract, from Ins terror as much or more money than lie can possibly afford.

"In my view this offence is on the increase, and the time has come when even if men are convicted tor the first time judges should inflict severe punishment. The parks and streets must be m ; .dc safe. Blackmail must be stamped out.

"For four days I. have been sitting here trying these charges of blackmail. I hope that those upon whom blackmail is practised or against whom it is attempted will have the courage to come forward in the future and speak.”

'rhe prisoners and their sentences were : George Robins, 42, a miner, 7 years’ penal servitude ; George Whiteside, 32, a traveller, 7 years ; William M'chacl Doyle, 39, a labourer, 4 years; Emmanuel Jack Delcanho, 20, a waiter, 4 years ; Sydney Sheffield, 20, a waiter, 4 years ; Charles Edward Ross, 4.",, an engineer, 5 years.

Itos.- had tried to get £3o') from a Bradford merchant by pretending io be an inspector of taxes, and alleging the merchant had sent 'in incorrect income-tax returns which he could put right. Delcanho and Sheffield had tried to blackmail an Army major. Robson, Whiteside, and Doyle had blackmailed t.wo men in Hyde Park and had protended to be detectives.