UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 December 1936, Page 8

UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL

CURRAN’S SENTENCE TO STAND (Unitsd Press Association; AUCKLAND. 19th December. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) has refused to release from gaol Thomas Curran, who Was sentenced in Auckland on 19th November to two months’ imprison' ment on a charge of keeping a common gaming-house. Shortly after the heftring of the case in the Magistrate’s Court, a petition was circulated -in the city, and 10,000 signatures pi: citizens obtained, asking that portion of. Tip, sentence bo remitted so that 1 Curran could spend Christmas in freedom.. There has been considerable interest in the city regarding the' fate of

Curran, and yesterday afternoon Curran’s solicitor, Mr Mahony, visited Mount Eden prison and secured the permission of his .client to make the Minister’s verdict public. Mr Mahony said he had received a letter containing the Minister’s decision on 11th December. The letter said, inter alia: “In the circumstances I regret that T am unable to see my way to make any recommendation with rcgar.-~’t*j the sentence imposed last month." This letter, Mr Mahony added, was in replv to an appeal made earlier by him on behalf of his client for reconsideration of the sentence in view of the peculiar circumstances and of the character of. the man himself. .“I take, it that this, is Mr Mason’s final .answer,” added.'Mr Mahony. “Whether 'or not tills is. the final disposition of the matter,;in view of the petition, I have no information to indicate.