People v. Beggs
Supreme Court of California
172 P. 152 (1918)
Relevant factsFree
After learning that an employee arrested for petty theft of under $50 had roughly $2,500 in savings, attorney Beggs threatened the employee with seven to ten years in prison unless he immediately withdrew and paid $2,000, which the employee did out of fear, and Beggs later gave only $900 of that sum to the employer he represented.
IssueFree
Whether inducing a debtor to pay a debt through the threat of prosecution for a crime may amount to extortion if the debtor paid the demanded amount by reason of fear induced by such threat.