THE MAIL ROBBERY

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1929, Page 5

THE MAIL ROBBERY

TWO SENTENCES Gordon Gets Three Years (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, April 17. Thomas Gordon and Arthur Henry William Bevan, two young men, who had pleaded guilty to the theft of po.stal packets from the ferry st lamer Wahine ,appeared before Mr Jus--1 ice Ma,cGregor to-day for sentence. Counsel for Esvali said that h. 3 appeared to have been the mug in the affair, as the police did not suggest hat he had done anyming more than ke< l p the watch to see that no one interfered. Counsel for Gordon said that he had worked since ho was eleven year’s old, and as a youth he had worked for some yyars in a racing stable. He had taken the .full responsibility for the robbery, and he desired to sentenced to a term of hard labour. Th;4 Judge: Whp does ho want hard labour?” Counsel: He realises that he can’t expect too much Joniecy, and that physical work wi-ll perhaps do him good.” Thr* Judge* ”1 moan, what did he have before? Counsel said ”reformative detention!” The Judg|<: x see; and ho did not I like it! The Crown Prosecutor said that the police 'regarded Gordon as a per--son of very bad reputation, and us the makings of a darting criminal. The Judge said that Cordon seem’d to bo fast becoming a hardened criminal. He had-asked for hard labour, and he would get it. He would be scnt.lneod to throe years hard. Bevan! was ordered iHorstal treatment for two years. A snm of £l6 which wns found on Bevan and rfliich was admitted to bo part of the proceeds of the robbery ,was or<J‘red to be returned to the Postmastor Genoa!,