CROOK'S SENTENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 559, 14 July 1909, Page 7

CROOK'S SENTENCE.

.■■ .._ —-» ■ ■ ,- - ■ .;■•.'■.■:-•■• /COMMUTED, ■ •:!■ . -i (By Telegraph.—Press ABsocitktion.-Oopyrißnt.) ..■;. (Roc. Julyl3, 9 p.m.) v ' '"■-,'./" Sydney, July 13. The sentence of death passed by Mr. Act; ing-Justice Rogers on John Frederick Crook, convicted of haying feloniously ; wounded Russell Sinclair with intent to murder him,', has been commuted to imprisonment for life. [Crook, : who has a Wellington criminal record, broke into the. house, of Eussell Sinclair, at North. Sydney, .and, when Sinclair grappled with him, fired four shots, two wounding Sinclair severely in the groin. Constable Gates, an ex-New Zealander, had α-severb struggle' in arresting-accused. >A majority of the jury.recommended Crook to raeroy-on'account of liis youth. -In his stateinent in Court accused said; "In tho struggle, in the house'-Mr. Sinclair hit the revolver, and :it went'off. I had no intention of killing, Mr. .Sinclair. 'He knocked the revolver again, and onoo more it went , off. Thorewas no intention of killing him. I have never before had any serious charge brought against me.. I'am very.'young, only 2ii years , of age. I had : no intentioii to us? tho , revolver at all;' It .was a'-, silly, mistake to , carry it at all."] ~' ..; ,'■:.■ . ■:-':\/.