BLACKMAILER SENTENCED

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19883, 12 May 1936, Page 4

BLACKMAILER SENTENCED

‘DREADFUL TYPE OF CRIMINAL"

“You have joined the most. dreadful type of criminal that our law know: You have become a blackmailér, the most terrible profession that anyone can take part in. You prey upon th. fears of your fellow»citizens in order to draw money out them as a. vampir‘ sucks blood.”

With these wordse ringing in his ears Jdmcs Patterson, aged 33, of Higher Walton, near Preston, went down the dock stairs at Lancaster Assizes to serve a. sentence of three years’ penal servitude, passed on him by Mr. Justice Swift, for sending a letter demanding money by menaces from a. woman whose identity was not revealed.

Mr. Glynn Blackledge, prosecuting, explained that on December 2 last the woman received a, letter from Patterson but she destroyed it. Five days later she received another from him threatening to make certain disclosures unless he received £IOO.

“Very wisely,” added Mr. Black]edge, “the woman took this second letter to the police, and, acting on their _instructions, she made an appointment with Patterson. During their con~ versation two officers came on the scene and Patterson was arrested."

Patterson told the judge that he had no intention of taking any money from the woman. “I wrote those letters,” he stated, “under a mad impulsé caused through dopression by being out of work.” Patterson added that he knew the woman only by name and had never met her.