CRUISER ROBBERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13978, 13 August 1909, Page 3

CRUISER ROBBERY.

DRAMATIC SCENE. The trial in connection with the robbery of nearly £3,01)0 from tlie treasury of H.M.S. Indomitable was concluded at Portsmouth Quarter Sessions on June 30th. All the three prisoners before the Court were found guilty, and the following sentences were passed:—Petty Oiiicer Tomey (who was charged with the theft), five years' penal servitude. Leading Seaman Alston (who was charged witii receiving), twelve months' imprisonment. Mrs Ethel Stagles (also dialled with receiving), three months' impiisoument. The jury recommended Mrs Stagles to mercy, but a previous conviction in London in ll'Ol was proved against her.

Sentence of nine months' imprisonment was passed on another prisoner, Charles Henry Hobbs (leading seaman), who had pleaded guilty, and later he gave evidence. Mr T. 11. Emenuel, counsel appearing for the Treasury, summed up for the prosecution. As regards the robbery, he ridiculed the idea that, in this period of a German scare, outsiders could gain access to and ransack one of our finest ships, The theft must have been committed by someone intimately acquainted with the vessel. Counsel contended that the evidence showed that the skeleton keys found on Tomey were 'of the class to fit the Indomitable's safes, and he advanced the theory that Tomey entered the cabin and opened the safes with the false keys, making subsequently more than one journey to get the plunder ashore. The electric lamp in his possession was doubtless used to assist him in his visits to the paymaster's cabin when the electric light switch there was out of order. When the prisoners were asked if they had anything to say, Alston declared that he knew nothing about the robbery. Tomey. with vehemence, said. '• I protest my innocence, Mr Recorder. Your .summing up has been all against inc." The Recorder, in passing sentence upon Tomey, said ho had no doubt that he was the chief instigator of the robbery. Whatever had been the carelessness onboard, that was not excuse. On sentence being passed the warders closed round Tomey, who was white with passion. He refused to go below before the other sentences were pronounced, and was allowed to remain. Addressing Alston the Recorder said lie was inclined to accept counsel's suggestion that he knew nothing about the very audacious robbery, and to think that he wont about in fear of Toincv. When lie heard his sentence Alston

shouted, " Can't you make it the same as Tomey's: J Make it five years." With regard to Stagles, the Recorder said he considered that she was not a free agent, and was under the influence of Hobbs. At the end of the proceedings the prisoners went quietly below.