TRAIN WRECKERS PENALTY

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1929, Page 9

TRAIN WRECKERS PENALTY

SENTENCE MUST BE SERVED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 7, 5.5 p.m. United Service. London, July 6. The new Home Secretary (Rt. Hon. J. R. Clynes) in a letter says he does not feel justified, consistently with his public duty, in recommending the release of the three young miners who were sentenced to eight years’ penal servitude for wrecking an express train at Cramlington during the general strike. The sentences had already been reduced to five years. During the progress of the general strike and miners’ strike in 1926 there were several attempts at sabotage. One of the most serious was the wreck of the express train “Flying Scotchman” near Cramlington. Though fortunately unattended with loss of life, the dastardly attempt was condemned by Labour as severely as by other sections of the public and the sentences inflicted upon those responsible for the wreck were not considered unduly harsh.