GUN-RUNNING CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19149, 15 October 1925, Page 11

GUN-RUNNING CASE.

CAPTAIN ATTF!ELD FREED. FIFTEEN MONTHS IN GAOL. (Received 5.5 p.rn,) Reuter. LONDON. Oct. 13. Captain C. H. Attfield, who has been in prison for 15 months because of his failure to satisfy a High Court, order under the Customs Consolidation Act, involving a sum of £27,000 in connection with the Thames gun-running case, has been released. A cablegram, dated October 15. 1924, stated : The case of an alleged gunrunning exploit in September, was heard to-day in the King's Bench division. The Crown sought to recover heavy penalties from James and Cecil Attfield, Charles Hinman and Frederick Firmin, who were charged with attempting to export machine-guns. Counsel for the prosecution stated that Captain Attfield entered into an agreement with Messrs. Vickers to purchase 56 machine-guns, but the Board of Trade refused permission to export them. Hinman bought a fishing smack, and the guns were placed aboard and transhipped to a Dutch steamer at sea, Cecil Attfield, Hinman and Firmin pleaded guilty. James Attfield pleaded not guilty. Cecil Attfield was fined £26,076 and Firmin and Hinman £15,960 each. It- was stated the guns were intended for Russia. A public petition is being organised asking for the release of Cecil Attfield and Charles Hinman. Unless the Home Secretary releases them they will be confined in prison for the rest, of their lives as debtors to the Crown for their respective heavy fines. They are not able to file petitions in bankruptcy on debts to the Crown. Both men are without means.