Parnell Man Tells Story of Threats

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 422, 2 August 1928, Page 13

Parnell Man Tells Story of Threats

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hint of secret society CHARGE OF DEMANDING MONEY BY MENACE Hugh Gilmer, a man of inde-o-ndent means. alleged in the Supreme Court this morning that Jack George Stewart, 26, had attempted to demand money from him with menaces. The case was heard by Mr. Justice Blair and a jury. Mr. V. N. Hubble inducted the prosecution, and Mr. F. \V Schramm defended the prisoner. Mr Hubble said that the accused vcis alleged to have been a partner with another man, McWilliams, in demanding money with menaces.. -I intend to object to the connection of the accused (Stewart) with this part of the case,” declared Mr. Schramm. The accused in a statement read to the court by counse said that he met “man w no invited him to go to Parnell Accused was instructed to get certain money. He did not know what it was for. The Question arose as to whether the accused knew of the criminal intent of his partner, McWilliams. Mr. Hubble contended that Stewart knew all about the threats. McWilliams's real name had turned cut to be McKenna, but he had not vet been found. Hugh Gilmer retailed the circumstances leading up to the doings at his iiouse Describing the attack he said he threatened me and my father with a bottle. He said was money in the house and demanded ii 60. Witness maintained that there was no money. At this stage Mr. Schramm formally objected to all the evidence as the accused was not there at the time. His Honour: I will note your objection, but will admit the evidence in the meantime. Gilmer continued that he handed £4O to McWilliams, who said lie would come on the following Monday lor more ' the second episode On the next occasion a fortnight later the accused Stewart asked for £2O “for the other fellow.” Witness refused, and McWilliams then joined accused on the doorstep. He said: “By —, the society are giving me fits for not getting the rest of the money from you.” Mr. Hubble: What society was this? —Witness: I do not know. W'itness said that McWilliams then said, “Give us a pound to sweeten the society up.” Asked by Mi-. Schramm about the quantity of liquor consumed at the house, witness said that McWilliams had had two bottles of beer and himself one small bottle. When McWilliams began to search the house for money witness protested. “You must not got in there,” he said, "my father is in there.” McWilliams thereupon said, “I’ll soon fix him with a bottle.” Mr. Schramm: You had McWilliams in the house. You are capable of giving him a good left?—Oh, no, I don’t think so. COURSE OF CASE Immediately after the luncheon adjournment Mr. Schramm applied to have the case withdrawn on the ground that there was no evidence whatever to convict the accused on the charge of menaces. Mr. Hubble agreed that it would be dangerous to convict the accused on the evidence before the jury. • “The charge against this man is that he was a party to the extortion by menaces from this man Gilmer,” said his Honour, in reviewing the evidence. “McWilliams did the extorting while this man (the accused) was in Sydney and the accused did not appear for 14 days afterwards. It appears that tlie prisoner really called to ask for the money for his mate. It turned out that this man was the one who demanded the money. As far as Stewart is concerned the evidence carries us no further than this. "The accused simply advised Gilmer to pay up. We must put on the evidence the construction that is most favourable. He had apparently nothing to do with the threatening,” concluded his Honour. Without leaving the courtroom the jury returned a verdict of “not guilty*”