BURNING OF CAR

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1933, Page 7

BURNING OF CAR

CLAIM FOR INSURANCE

PRISONER SENTENCED

Found guilty recently on a charge of attempting to obtain; £100 by false pretences from an insurance company in connection with the burning of his motor-car, John Phillips was brought before tho Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) at the Supreme Court today, and was ordered to come up for sentenco witbing eighteen months if called upon. Addressing the prisoner, his Honour said that he had carefully considered thu case. He had asked yesterday whether the police considered that it appeared that tho prisoner had anything to do with the setting fire to tho car or tho removal of certain -parts. Tho answer given- was not unfavourable to tho prisoner. "If it had appeared that you were- responsible for the firing of tho car or for the removal of thoso parts," said his Honour, "I should without hesitation h'avo passed a sentence of imprisonment upon you. In the circumstances, however, having regard to the fact that you have been convicted, and that you have lost tho value of this car, I propose not to send you to prison. "As I have said more than once during the present sitting cf the Court, I regard the conviction as of much more importance than tht sentence. To my mmd to certain classes of cases the knowledge that juries will not hesitate to do their duty, however unpleasant it may be, and the/ certainty of conviction following wfatre tho case is clearly proved, constitutes a greater deterrent than anything else to other likely offenders." Tho costs in the case amounted to £35, and the prisone was ordered to pay the amount in twelve monthly instalments.