THE DRUCE CASE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XX, Issue 1001, 13 April 1908, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

«*• Press Assii-«=By telegraph — Copyright. LONDON, j>V3S*6rday. TUe trial of Mary Robinson, for perjury in connection with the Druce case has concluded. Mr Avory, X.0., declared that the offence was the worst possible, and was committed solely from sordid motives. Mr Marshall Hall, for ilie defence, pleaded that prisoner had been cruelly and wickedly duped. She was a mere puppet in the hands of the master mind that was guiding* the conspiracy. Her crime was indefensible, and he asked for leniency only in view of the special circumstances of the case. Mr Justice Walton said he did not wish to make any imputation against any particular individual in relation to prisoner, but he was satisfied that she was tempted to commit perjury. He emphasised the very serious mischief arising from the promotion of -companies for adopting and maintaining shadowy claims to property and the willingness of the 'public, in their infinite credulity, to contribute money for such schemes. His Honor 'commented on the institution of criminal proceedings in support of the monstrous claini, and added that Mrs Robinson, acting doubtless under pressure, yielded to 'temptation... Her age was the" only mitigating circumstance "weighing with him; otherwise he would have imposed the maxiittupi. sentence of seven years. He sentenced" prisoner to four years' imprisonment.