PILLAGERS GAOLED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18017, 4 November 1920, Page 5

PILLAGERS GAOLED.

REM ARKS BY .MAGISTRA'I HL (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Uov. 3. "It has come to this,” said Mr. J. McCarthy, S.M., in passing sentence on several pillagers al the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court this afternoon. "It is a contest between law on the one hand and thieving ou the other. Honest people ot this Dominion have grown tired of paying for depredations of small bands of thieves who infest shipping, the waterside and railways, and I have frequently said from this bench, and I am going to say it again, I do not intend to extend the provisions of the Probation Act or to inflict any fines for pillaging until there is considerable moderation in these thefts for which the honest people of New Zealand have to pay.” James Churches, Eric Chadwick, Edgar Howdeu, Roderick McInnes (firemen on the s.s. Kent) were charged with theft of a number of articles, including feit hats, soap and crockery, the property of the Federal Line Shipping Company. Accused pleaded guilty. Chadwick. Howdeu and J. Mclnnes were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour on one charge; each were convicted on the others. Churcher, who had three charges against him, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour on two of the charges, the terms to be cumulative. and on the third charge he was convicted.