LIFE SENTENCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 272, 30 August 1935, Page 5

LIFE SENTENCES

GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER.

ANOTHER OF TEN YEARS

PERTH JEWELLERY ROBBERY

United Press Association —Copyright) l Received This Day, 10,30 a.m.) PERTH, This Day.

Matthew Walsh, Stanley Flynn and Cyril Brennan were found guilty of the manslaughter of Edgar Whitfield, a night-watchman at a jeweller’s shop. Charles Silverman was found not guilty. Walsh and Flynn were sentenced to imprisonment for life with hard labour, and Brennan to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Silverman was re-arrested and was charged with, having received stolen goods.

A message from Perth on February 6, stated:— The body of Edgar Whitfield, aged 60, a night caretaker employed by Caris Bros., jewellers, in Hay Street, Perth, was found last night at the rear of the shop. His neck was broken. Diamonds valued at between £4OOO and £SOOO were missing from the safe. Mr Whitfield was seen last night about 10 o’clock transferring diamonds from the window to the safe in accordance with his usual custom.

Later the police received a telephone message from an unknown man saying he had heard a crash of glass within the shop. Their examination revealed Mr Whitfield’s body. There was evidence of theft, and the police are of opinion that Whitfield’s neck was broken during a violent struggle with burglars. A later cablegram stated that (Detective O’Keefe, of Melbourne, gave evidence that Walsh in a statement said that Flvnn and he entered Caris Brothers’ jewellery store and attacked Whitfield (the caretaker) and when the latter fell to the floor he (Walsh) took the diamonds from the window.