AUCKLAND GANGSTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1932, Page 7

AUCKLAND GANGSTERS

JUDGE ORDERS FLOGGING FOR PAY-ROLL THIEVES [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, August 12. “Much as I dislike it, I must decide that physical violence, such-as was used in this case, must be. met by physical punishment, as well as by imprisonment,” said Justice .Smith, today, when sentencing Francis John Peckham, a Fijian ship’s-fireman, and William Keogh, labourer, who were found guilty of holding up a cashier in the street on May 27, and stealing a payroll over £l4O. His Honor said that the crime was definitely one of the gangster type. The whole affair was carefully planned and one of the most serious aspects was that a number of people stood around without offering help. It was intolerable that streets in broad daylight should be unsafe for persons who carried money. Strongly deterrent, sentences must be imposed to stop this kind of lawlessness. Peckham was sentenced to three years’ hard labour, and a flogging of twelve strokes. Keogh was sentenced to two years’ hard labour with a similar flogging. ' ASKED FOR FLOGGING.

Clifford Spencer Dahlin, found guilty of conspiring to defraud, and of false pretences, came up for sentence to-day. In a written statement, he made tne rr usual request to Justice Smith to impose a short term of imprisonment and corporal punishment, instead of a long term. The Judge said that accused had conspired to defraud an old man of £l2OO. The conspiracy was impudent and carefully planned. Accused’s request could not be granted, as the law did not allow it. The sentence would be four years’ hard labour. RUSSIAN WITH BOMB. George Sargiff, found guilty of being in possession of a bomb and gelignite, with intent to commit a crime, was sentenced, to-day, by Justice Smith to twelve months’ hard labour. His Honor said it had not been proved that prisoner was an active member of any organisation, whose avowed object was the destruction of society, but .it was impossible to regard his offences lightly. In view of his good record, only half the full penalty would be imposed’.