JUDGE’S “GREAT ANXIETY”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 10

JUDGE’S “GREAT ANXIETY”

CANCELS GAOL SENTENCE GAS OFFICIAL BOUND OVER (From a Correspondent) LONDON, July 20 Air Justice Croom-Johnson, after sentencing a man to six months in the second division, worried for days about it. Hlad he taken sufficiently into account the jury’s recommendation to leniency? The case had been heard at Die Manchester Assizes. William Ewart Plevin, deputy engineer at Southport Corporation Gasworks, had been found guilty of conspiring to cause a gas examiner to ! m.ike tests on specially-prepared gas, j conspiring to contravene the provj- j sinus of the Has Undertakings Arts, j conspiring to supply gas of low calo- j riJio value and conspiring to obstruct Mr Justice Groom-Juhnson said j that the case bad c-iven him a great j • deal of anxiety. He hoped lie was j : not letting his feelings interfere with his duly, but lie was disposed to > think that lie did not pay sufficient j attention to the recommendation of the jury. Duty to the Public Mr E. G. Hemmerde, K.C., defending counsel, who referred to the | jury’s “admirable” rider, observed: i “-It seems to me that if it had been 1 drawn up by skilled lawyers it could hardly have covered what they wantTiie judge, to Plevin: "n further reflection. 1 am raiTier dispo.-ed to , think that some of the practices at J

Southport gasworks were not un- i known elsewhere, and that this trial may have some effect in making people engaged in public occupations appreciate more fully than perhaps they do at present Die duty they owe to the public at large, as well as to their immediate employers. ■Jle said that be bad read and reread Die jury’s rider, and added: “Although I thouight that 1 had dealt with you leniently, 1 have satisfied myself L did not deal with you as leniently as perhaps I ought." The jury’s rider referred to expressed the opinion that Plevin, during his short period at Die gasworks, had endeavoured to do his best to improve conditions “in spite of the apparent lack of co-operation of the chief engineer .and severe opposition of many at these works, including particularly the four chemists, and, unfortunately/ contravened the law in so doing.” Sentence was withdrawn by the judge, who bound Plevin over for 12 months in £25. Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.—Franklin. A first -rank baseball team in America will have a programme of J:j i games during Die season, which lasts from April to October. The result of a big spurting event such as the Derby, is known in every country in the world in ten seconds, by means of radio.