THREAT TO KILL MEANT AS JOKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 1

THREAT TO KILL MEANT AS JOKE

STEWARD’S DEFENCE OFFENSIVE LETTERS Press Association. PALMERSTON N., To-day. The trial commenced at the Supreme Court this morning of Norman Ernest Stanley, whose occupation was given as a steward, on a charge of having sent Mr. J. P. Innes, a solicitor, a letter containing a threat to kill accused’s wife. In evidence Innes said that on December 5 last he received a letter from accused, sent from New York, in which a threat was made by accused to kill his wife and to exterminate his family. Witness handed the letter to A postal official produced an offensively addressed letter from accused to his wife. Approximately 16 offensively addressed letters from accused were intercepted by the Postal Department and sent back to their country of origin. The wife of accused gave evidence that the latter had left her on the day following their marriage, ostensibly to go to his farm, but he did not own one. She subsequently received threatening letters from all over the world. A detective, in evidence, said that accused, in a statement, said the letter was written in a foolish, despondent mood, brought on by deep affection for a wife who had repelled all his attempts to make things up between them. The threats were not meant seriously. He had returned with the express intention of apologising. Counsel for defendant submitted there was no case to answer as the letter, the subject of the charge, was not addressed to, nor received by, the person against whom the threat w«j.s made. Tlio Crown Prosecutor referred his Honour to the English decision, where the Court of Appeal held a man guilty of having sent a letter to Mr. Ramsay Macdonald threatening to kill the chief detective. His Honour over-ruled the objection. Accused was found guilty and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on his promising to keep away from New Zealand after the* sentence was served.