Dunedin Police Scandal.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6594, 13 June 1905, Page 2

Dunedin Police Scandal.

THE ACCUSED SENTENCED.

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Coypright Dunedin, June 12 Edward Quill, ex-constable, was tried on a charge of stealing a ring, pieces of cloth, ah ur-clipping machine, tobacco, pipes, and various other articles. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr A. C. Hanlon. After evidence had been taken, Mr Hanlon addressed the jury. He contended tb,at what the Crown said m effect [ was that because a man earning 7s 6d a day had throe pipes and about a pound of tobacco m his possession, the jury must find him guilty of theft. The witnesses for the prosecution did not pretend to say the articles were the property of their employers, all they said was that the goods were like their employers'. Beyond that the Crown would not go. The jury after a quarter of an hour's retirement returned a verdict of " not guilty," and Quill was discharged.—Thomas Moses, aged 28, and James McDonald, aged 31, who had previously been found guilty, were then brought up for sentence. The Crown ■ Prosecutor said Moses was convicted m f 1890 of theft from a dwelling and received three months' probation. In 1895 he was convicted of shop-breaking, and ordered to come up for sentence when called on. He then went with a Contingent to South Africa, and on his return was appointed to the Permanent Artillery, and subsequently drafted into the Police Force. Uis convistions were not known, or he would not have been appointed to the Police Force. As to McDonald, he had served m the Police for 7£ years, and there was nothing against him. Moses was then sentenced to five years, and McDonald to three years' imprisonment with hard labour, Oliver Henry Osboi-ne was also sentenced to three years' imprisonment.