THE HOUNDSDITCH AFFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 155, 1 July 1911, Page 17

THE HOUNDSDITCH AFFAIR.

WOMAN ALONE FOUND GUILT'S. TWO TEARS WITHOUT DEPOKTA- i TION. The Houndsditch couspiracy trial at tho Old it alley terminated ou May 12, with a verdict of guilty against Nina Vassileva, twouiy-tnruc, ciyaretio uiaKer, and or not guilty in legard to the three mcn —Jacob rulers, iweiKy-lour, tailors presser, Youvka Dubof, twenty-four, painter; John Rosen, tweuty-sls, hairdresser. The acquitted men were discharged, and Vassileva was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The indictment was for conspiring together and with George Gardstelu (who was shot;, aud other i crsons to bleak aud enter on December 10 I «•> ilup ef ht. iieE'v Samuel Harris, jeweller, ;■*•, Houndsditch, with intent to steal his goods. Our English files show tiiat practically n fortnight was occupied with the trial, which began ou May 1. The Crown llrst arraigned Dubof aud l'eters for the wilful murder of I'olice-sergeaut Tucker, on December 10, lv Exchange Buildings, lloundsditch, aud Vassileva, as an accessory after the murder. On that occasion, it will be remembered, three police ollicers were killed and two were seriously injured. The jury, however, under Mr. Justice Granthain's direction, on the h'lst day of the heariug fouud Uie two accused men not guilty of murder. The three prisoners were then tried as accessories after the fact of Sergeaut Tucker's murder, but ou the second day, again under

the judge's intervention, tbls charge was ' also dropped; and the ipruainder of the c trial was on the indictment disposed o£ by a the sentence of Vnssilevn. c In the preliminary examinations at Guild- S hull, which extended from December 24 t until April 4, four additional accused per- 5 sons (two women and two men) were dis- t charged by the presiding alderman. f Mr. Justice Gnintbam, in the course r of his snmniliiß up. which occupied nil hour 4 and α-half, observed that it Police-constable ° Martin had shown greater courage and a * greater sense of duly on tile occasion of the dreadful occurrences of December 1C he might have acted in a way that would have j assisted the aims of justice. It was true i that he was in great danger. The wounded t man Gnrdstein must have been carried over ( thp spot where Martin lay. and had MarMn j not been afraid to raise his head lie must f have seen who the persons were who were i carrying Gardstein and been able to iden- , tlfy them without difficulty. J The jury, in addition to their verdict, , expressed the hope that Vasslleva, being | a political rofiißPo only, with no suggestion | that she had been guilty of any crime before ] she arrived, should not be deported. The judge said that under the circum- ( stances he did not propose to recommend j deportation. i