Second Man Faces Hearing Today on Blackmailing, Evening Star (Article, May 1954)

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Second Man Faces Hearing Today on Blackmailing Charge

A second man charged with blackmailing a sailor today faced a Municipal Court hearing.

Robbery Squad detectives last night charges John W. Robertson, jr., 21, of the 3300 block of Brothers place S.E., with blackmailing by threatening to tell a story that the sailor was a homosexual.

The first man arrested in the case, William G. Hines, jr., of the 300 block of Thirty-seventh place S.E., appeared in Municipal Court yesterday on two charges of taking property without right. His case was continued to May 25, with bond set at $600.

According to Detective Sergts. J. T. Bailey and G. L. Keyser, the sailor met the two men in Lafayette Park and went to have a beer with them. Later the men threatened to expose the sailor as a homosexual, the detectives said.

The sailor told police he gave up nearly $250 in several payments before contacting them. Police arrested Hines in Fairlawn Park on Monday, after the sailor allegedly made another payment of $40 in marked money.

Sergt. Bailey said Robertson, whom Hines had implicated under questioning, was involved only in the Lafayette Park meeting and the sailor's first payment of $100. The detective said that even though Hines appeared in Municipal Court on another charge, the blackmail charge will be presented to a grand jury.