MERCY ASKED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 7

MERCY ASKED.

"Terrible Sentence" For "Terrible Crime." CONSTABLE COMMENDED. LONDON, February 20. There was a sensational scene at the ! Nottingham assises when Edgar Smith | was found guilty of attempting To murder Constable Dainty. The evidence showed that the con-1 stable had overtaken Smith when he was motoring and had been shot by him. The judge said: "You shot this un- j fortunate man who vu doing hi* duly.' You shot him three times. There i* only one penalty I can inflict, namely, penal servitude for life." Smith reeled in the dock and the people in Court gasped. Presently Smith recovered and said: "Can you not hare mercy, if not for myself for tnv wife! It is a terrible sentence."' j The judge: "It is a terrible sentence. . but you have done a terrible thing and it is only by the mercy of God you were not charged with murder." I Then the jndse recalled Con*.aWe j Dainty and said to him: "No one; could have blamed you if. seWng that accused was armed and having one! bullet through your body, you had j ceased to try to arrest him. Ne vert he-' I less, you took two mo-e shots into your j j body before you ceased to do your dutv. ; j It is a record of which any man might i I be proud."