INNOCENT MEN SENTENCED TO PENAL SERVITUDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5944, 4 December 1880, Page 7

INNOCENT MEN SENTENCED TO PENAL SERVITUDE.

At Southward Police Court, London, on Wednesday, September 1, soon after Mr. Bridge had taken his seat on the bench, private-deteetive Parker, late of the L. Division, introduced to his Worship two men named Charles Frost and Kdwiu Smith, who were sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude for a burglary at Chelmsford two years ago, but who' were discharged from Millbank Prison a few days ago, on its being proved to the satisfaction of the Home .Secretary that they were innocent. Mr. Bridge asked why they applied to this court. Parker informed his Worship that in August, IS7S, they were apprehended by detective-sergeant Walsh, M. Division, and brought to this court, charged with having in their possession a quantity of valuable jewellery, the proceeds of a burglary at Colchester, and remanded to that place. They were tried at Chelmsford Assizes, and sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude. Frost, an intelligent-looking man, said he wanted to address bis Worship, and he trusted the I'ress would notice his application, as they had suffered the horrors of penal servitude for two years for a crime they knew nothing of, and of which they had been proved to be innocent. They were first charged at this court with the offence, and they came there to lay their grievances before the public. They were convicted on evidence showing that gross perjury had been committed by the witnesses, and after enduring two years of intense suffering they were , proved to be guiltless, the real parties who committed the crime being convicted. Inquiries were instituted by the authorities, and after a thorough investigation into the circumstances the Homo Secretary, being convinced of their innocence, granted a free pardon, and they were liberated from Millbank Prison on the 2(itli, without a penny in the world. Witness hero banded to his Worship the pardons, which were endorsed "Conduct good." Mr. Bridge observed that as the papers reported the apprehension and conviction, and as it appeared from the documents before him that they wore wrongly convicted, it would be doing justice to these poor, unfortunate men that their innocence and release should also be sent forth to the public. Frost said that was what they wanted. Mr. Bushby said that everybody who heard their statement must be sorry for them, and he trusted that through the Press they might be enabled to earn an honest ■ livelihood. Frost said that he had been J ••hounded" about by the police for years, \ and this was the second time be bad been , proved innocent after conviction. They were now quite destitute. Mr. P.ridge was extremi'lv sorry for them, and recommended them to apply to the Charity Organisation Society in the district of the court, who no doubt would grant them immediate assistance.