ARMED ROBBERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 3

ARMED ROBBERS

•POTENTIAL MURDERERS” The Chief Justice of New South Wales, Sir Philip Street, and Mr Justice Ferguson said, in the Full Court of Criminal Appeal recently, that every man who committed robbery under arms was a potential murderer. The Court, which also comprised Mr Justice Haise Rogers, indicated that such offenders against the community could expect no leniency from the Courts. The Chief Justice said that every time leniency was shown encouragement was given to others. Leniency in these rases was misplaced. People who carried ! with a view to com mitting crimes, or who associated with people who did, would have to understand that they were doing things that needed to be severely repressed, and would be severely repressed. The Court was considering the appeals of Frank Woods, aged 22, and Leonard Ernest Richards, aged 21. who were convicted of assault and robbery while being armed. Judge Edwards sentenced Woods to seven years and Richards tn five years’ penal servitude. According to the report of the trial Judge the appellants went to the shop of a Chinese, bailed up the Chinese at the point of a revolver and, under threats, forced him to go from room to room while they robbed the plare. Appeals were lodged on the ground of undue severity. The Chief Justice said that Woods had a long record. Only last year he was bound over after conviction for breaking, entering and stealing, and it appeared that only a sharp lesson mi’dit stor him from developing into a useless member of society. Tt appeared that Richards had not been convicted be fore. “In the circumstances.” added His Honour, “no ease has been made out for interfering with the sentences, and T think that the applications be dismissed. ,