THE BOWRON FRAUDS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13422, 8 July 1911, Page 5

THE BOWRON FRAUDS.

COMMENTS BY THE JUDGE. Press Association-—Telegraph.--Copyright. Received Julv 8. 8.5 a.m. LONDON, July 7. In the Bowron case, Mr. Travers Humphreys, prosecuting counsel, said that Knight, the defendant’s dock manager, without whose signature the frauds would be impossible, borrowed from the firm £8640, and ids son £2394, hut nothing had been repaid. Mr. Muir, in mitigation of the sentence on John Bowron, urged for consideration in view of his age and the fact that lie had not made provision for his family out of the disaster. The turnover of the business in London had been £300,000 per annum for many years past, but the firm’s capital had not exceeded £35,000 or £40,000. The Bowron family had lost £131,000 in the matter. Sir F. A Bosanqnet, Common Serjeant, in passing sentence, said the defendants had been guilty of grave mercantile frauds. It would have boon far bettor had the firm liquidated when in difficulties, instead of continuing in speculative hope of a trade boom. There was no difference in the cases against the accused, and but for his age. and the fact of John not puting bv Targe sums he would have pronounced penal servitude.