BLACKMAIL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 470, 2 March 1933, Page 5

BLACKMAIL

(Press. Assn.-

youth in court DEMANDED MONEY FROM SECRETARY OF CLUB ADMITS WRITING LETTER

-By Telegrapli— Copyrlgtit).

Wellington, Wednesday. An eighteen-year-old youth, Fred Howard Davis, appeared in the Magistrate's Court to-day charged with attempting to extort money from Walter Nathan Coy, secretary of the National Club, by blackmail. Davis sent a letter from Motueka signed "Pat Readon," in which he threatened to inform the police. that Coy had been engaged in sly grog selling and demanding the sum of £10. Giving evidence, Coy produced the blackmailing letter which he said he had received on february 2. He said that he replied to it tbe same day by a letter written at the dictation of detectives in which he said that he would see what he could do. On February 4, he received a collect wire from Motueka which read: "Three more days, Readon." Witness said that he did not remember having seen the accused before. "Tip Cops Off" The letter stated inter alia: "Just a few lines which I don't suppose will make you any more pleased when you have read them. My mate and I have decided that you are to be stung for a tenner and you are getting off very light at that. If you don't come aeross with ten pounds we are going to tip the cops off and see that you lose your license and go up. The letter proceeded: "The next night we waited behind a tree by your gate and we were going to soek you with a lump of iron but you have to thank me that you didn't get relieved of all your money. We are not ordinai'y crooks. We have been at this game for four years and that is why we have been living well. We are going to give you a week from •to-day to come across with the money or a reply and if we don't get the money, we are going to tip the cops off." Detective Sergeant Revell produced a statement in which the accused admitted writing the letter. A constable said that accused's employer in Motueka gave him an excellent character and was willing to re-engage him. Davis was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence and bail was allowed.