RELEASED!

NZ Truth, Issue 282, 19 November 1910, Page 4

RELEASED!

HERBERT ALLANDALE FREE

Wby is Secrecy Maintained?

On May 16, 1905, Herbert Allandale, Fred. W. Dennett, and John Hayes were charged m the Supreme Court, Christchurch, with breaking and entering the railway station at Amberley and stealing the sum of £94 18s 6d, besides other large amounts represented by cheques, money orders, stamps, etc. Allandale was sentence to ten. years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Cooper, whoso heavy sentences are notorious, whilst Dennett and Hayes received smaller sentences. The extreme length of the term caused a sensation at the time, and Allandale ineffectually applied for a new trial. Appalled, probably by the prospect of such a time spent m captivity, Allandale effected his escape, but was recaptured, and sentenced to solitary confinement. We heard considerably about Allandale afterwards, principally through, the columns oi "Truth," and the statement that the UNHAPPY WRETCH WAS GOING

INSANE was: confirmed by a number of discharged prisoners. Appeals were made for at least a mitigation of his sentience, but without avail, and the man languished m prison, although it is true that he eventually succeeded m getting a shift to Mount Eden gaol, Auckland, principally, perhaps, owing to the public agitation m bis favor. Now we have the astounding news that Allandale has been liberated after serving half his sentence. It is stated that he has been deported from the Dominion, but whether his destination was England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, or Timbuctoo, doesn't seem to be definitely known. No "doubt .this clemency is largely due to the agitatioii set on foot by. "Truth," but is not the act m the nature of a reprimand to Mr Justice Cooper for the severity of bis sentences ? To take five years off a man's term is a most unheard of thing, but possibly the Government can give some satisfactory explanation of it.