MAIL BAG ROBBERY

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 8

MAIL BAG ROBBERY

YfiiiKS’ BAH SEMTEKCED TO ■ IBPRiSOHBEHT breach of probation for arson *• You have proved yourself an enemy >!’ society. To give you further liberty means simply to give you a. fresh opportunity, winch the past has shown you fully availed yourself ol to commit fresh crime," said His Honour JJT Justice .Kennedy this morning m sen touring 'Walter Reynolds Banders to throe years’ imprisonment with hard labour lor the tholt of mail bags and for a breach of probation. Mi- C. J. L. White, who appeared for the prisoner, said Sanders was twenty-nine years ol: age. and was a. married'man with two very young children. His life bad been a series ol misfortunes, and ho had had a hard struggle to maintain bis wile and children. Before he committed the offence of arson last year he had been told by tho doctor that he was likely to die" before long. Sanders then set lire lo a store where his furniture was housed, hoping that in tho event of bis death his wife would have tho insurance on the furniture as_a stand-by. Since being allowed probation on that charge bo had not been able to obtain much employment, and just before lie committed the theft his family was m desperate straits Counsel understood that there were only potatoes and rice in tho liou.se." 'The 'offences were crude ones, and not likely to be productive of great financial results. The only proceeds he got were the amounts ol some postal notes which lie cashed, and Ham be was immediately brought to book. If the prisoner wore given a chance some of his friends would find work for him.

Tho Crown Prosecutor (Mr F. U. Adams) suggested that tlio ease; must bo dealt with serious!;,' unless the system of probation was to be minced almost io a larcc. The ollcncc ol arson a year ago was a serums one, the prisoner having shown a certain amount of cunning in his attempt to establish an alibi. It appeared that insurance moneys totalling IMIB had to bo paid out in respect to the goods stored ib tho shed which was set afire. The furniture of the prisoner was insured for ,-ClbO, but he did not care, in Ids attempt to get that, ii he destroyed the budding and other people’s goods. On that occasion accused also told tlio story of a starving wife and children and of his own ill-health. The theft of the mail bags showed a certain amount of wanlonnos 1 -'.

ills Honour said tho prisoner had pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing mail bags with intent to rob and search them. Last year he had also • pleaded guilty to a charge ot arson. The prisoner was admitted to probation for three years, but had broken Hie terms of his license by 7 committing the furllier crimes of theft. It also appeared Hint the prisoner was awaiting sentence elsewhere on other /■barges. Tho theft of the mail bags took place on two successive days, and it appeared that tho second_ crime was committed with deliberation. The prisoner conk! not be treated with leniency, especially as he had had warnings in the past. His Honour said he was satisfied from tho certificates that tho general health of the prisoner was satisfactory, and that in the past the nature of his illness and disability had been somewhat exaggerated.

11 is Honour then sentenced Sanders to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each of two charges ol theft of mail bags and on a charge of breach of probation, tho sentences to bo concurrent.