THE DRUCE PERJURY CASES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 13 April 1908, Page 5

THE DRUCE PERJURY CASES

JUDGE'S TRENCHANT REMARKS. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] - LONDON, April ,11. The trial of Mary Robinson, for p&rjury in connootiou with the Druce caso has concluded. '.Mr Avory.'K.C. declared that tlie offence with which' she' wa» charged was r the Wc-rst possible, and committed Solely' from ? s6rdid motives Mr MarWall/lbr tlie defencu, 1 pleaded that .prisonferj had . been, cruelly 4»nd wickedly duped, She was a, mere puppeit in the hands o£ tUe muster mind guiding tho conspiracy. Her crime was indefensibki He asked for leniency' enly in view of ihe special oircumstaw ice of the- case. Justice Walton* said he did not wish to mftßeTany"impiuta,tions again&t any parti^ulax inqrvidual in relation to the prisoi^r. l^i was satisfied she was tempted to commit perjury. He emphatifefcd ,th© T«ry serious mSsohdetf arising from : .the promotion of companießfor 1 adoptirg eni maintaining jshadewy clabiw.on propexty, and the willingness of the public to contribute money to such seheir.ca He also comr menfc'id en tlie; in&titutfon of criminal proceedings' in support ol the monitrcuS"claim, and'added that prisonor, aciing .doubtless on prossmres yielded .to temptation. . Her age wa> the only miligafing ' cif cumatance weighing <wiUi him. Otheywiaef he would have impcrod the maiiinum scntenco of seivett yeartf iinpneonment. Ho would Bentence prisoner to four years' imprisonment