MONEY DEMANDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 8

MONEY DEMANDED

THREATENING LETTERS SENT YOUNG MAN PLEADS GUILT/ [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. Four charges of demanding money with menaces and two of causing to be received by Mr. W. R. Kenner letters threatening to burn a building, were preferred against Douglas Maxwell, aged 27, labourer, in the Magistrate's Court to-day. William Richard Kenner, govern-ing-director of Kenner's, Limited, said that on January 12 he received a typewritten letter marked "Personal’’ and bearing the Petone postmark. “There are anti-capitalistic racketeers operating in New Zealand and you are marked down to suffer material loss,” the witness read from the letter. "This means they may burn down your house or destroy your bach, which would be disastrous. The horror of an explosion in the middle of the night would not benefit nerves of iron.”

Witness then read a passage in which the writer offered him immunity from all harm at a cost to witness of only £2OO. Witness was called upon to advertise his decision in the evening paper personal column, using the nom de plume "K.K." This letter was signed "Anti-Capitalist." Witness communicated with the police and subsequently advertised: "I have no option. What are your conditions.—“K.K.”

On January 19 he received another letter stating that he had acted wisely and on payment of £2OO in cash he would receive protection from the anti-capitalistic racketeers. Witness then advertised: "What are your arrangements?" On January 27 he received a third letter asking him to have the money in his possession * and carry it with him during the following Tuesday. The letter stated: "At the first sign of your co-operation with the police the deal is off and the consequences are on your own head. You will be observed' all day Tuesday, so play safe. Till Tuesday then—Pro-Cap." Thoroughly Alarmed. Witness said he had regarded all the communications seriously and by this time he was thoroughly alaimed. After further communications by telephone and a letter received on February 6 in the course of which there was a paragraph, “You will appreciate the seriousness of the terrible fire last week and unless you wish to suffer a similar experience you know what to do." Witness was instructed to go to a telephone box and look in the directory under the letter "K" for further instructions. With two detectives concealed in his ear he carried out the instructions. In the car he read: 'Park your car on Ihe corner two streets down on the 1-I't and walk to the box and back. Leave the letter on the front seat of the car." He acted as directed and when he returned to the car he saw accused in the custody of the detectives.

Acting-Detective Smith said tie and Acting-Detective Atty secreted themselves in Kenner's car when he drove to the telephone box. He heaiu footsteps approaching. They went past the car a little distance and then were retraced. Witness had a feeling that someone was looking into the car. “Although we were secreted from normal view in the rear ol the car it would have been quite possible for anyone standing alongside and looking in to have seen us," said witness. "After a second or so the footsteps began to recede again, getting faster until they finally seemed to break into a run. Detective Alty and I quickly got out of the car and were in time to see accused running down a nearby street. We gave chase. Accused disappeared into the garden of a residence and Detective Alty remained at the front while ± retraced my steps to lhe rear fence. I looked over and saw accused crouching behind it.” Witness described the continuation of the chase. Accused, when caught and taken into the car, asked: "Are you Kenner’s sons?" and a few minutes later remarked: "I was a mug." At the Central Police Station accused said he wanted to be quite frank and stated that he alone haa been responsible for the typing and posting of the letters to Kenner, said witness. He told the police where to find the typewriter. He volunteered a statement but later discontinued on the advice of his solicitor.

Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court lor sentence, bail of £2OO with two £lOO sureties being allowed.

New Zealand Service-Car Drivers. -I don't think I could go Io any other place in the world and find such fine men,'' said Mr. Harry P. Kuhn, jun., an American visitor lo Christchurch, when praising the New Zealand service-car drivers in an interview. "I have never seen such drivers in my life,” he said. “They are so interesting and courteous, and they point out all the interesting places on a journey to the passengers. I was rather amazed that their duties were so varied, including the delivery of newspapers and the carrying of school children and milk.” Mr. Kuhn also spoke in high praise of the officers in the Government tourist offices, whom he said were so efficient that one did not have to think unless one wanted to. “New Zealand is a marvellous country and the people are charming, and you have done wonderfully well in such a short time." he said.