PERJURY CHARGE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23962, 1 June 1943, Page 7

PERJURY CHARGE

PRISONER APPEARS rUK SENTENCE “Even one as Irresponsible as you are claimed to be must know that perjury saps the very foundation of Justice and is an offence which cannot in any circumstances be condoned by the Courts, said Mr Justice Northcroft in imposing sentence yesterday on Noel Wilfred Lloyd, an aircraftsman, aged 18, who appeared for sentence on a charge of perjury. Mr C. S, Thomas (for Lloyd) said that Lloyd had been persuaded by two others, Fox and Carter, to co-operate in a fictitious story to get Fox out of “a spot of bother." , . . ... To his Honour, Mr Thomas said that the story was sufficient to get Fox off a conviction on a theft charge. The story intended to establish an alibi had been untrue. Apparently Lloyd was somewhat irresponsible. His own impression was that Lloyd’s mental growth was not yet on a par with his physical growth. Lloyd had also been unfortunate in meeting Fox and Carter, both of whom were criminal types with lists. Fox, in particular, had been described by the police as a vicious type. He had been committed to reformative treatment for three years At the present time Fox was before the Court, having nleaded guilty to abduction and carnal knowledge of a girl of 15. His Honour said that the offence was very serious If Llcyd had been more vicious he would have been committed to a Borstal institution for a substantial period. Because of counsel’s representations. however, Lloyd would be sent to prison for a short period to mark on his mind the gravity of the offence and to serve to indicate its gravity to others. He would be sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Remanded Clifford Fox, a labourer, aged 21, appeared for sentence on charges of abduction and of carnal knowledge of a girl of 15 years. £ After Fox had submitted a note, his Honour said: “Fox. you say that Mr Justice Blair, in sentencing you at Hamilton took into account this offence—that is what you think occurred there. It may be so, but it seems somewhat surprising. I will remand you till Wednesday to find Mr Justice Blair’s mind upon it.” Forgery Basil George Knox (Mr J, K. Moloney), a labourer, aged 32. appeared for sentence on five charges .of forgery, two of uttering forged documents, and one of theft from a dwelling. Mr Moloney said that the case differed in gravity from the average one of forgery. Cheques had been signed F. R Rumble There was no such person, though there was an F A. Rumble. No doubt if any care had been taken in the first instance it could have been seen that the cheques were a very clumsy forgery Knox had algo been in a fuddled condition from drink He had returned with a bad leg wound after serving 14 months with the Ist Echelon. His Honour said that the offences savoured more of a naughty boy than of a criminally disposed man. even though he had a previous list The Probation Officer (Mr W. H. Darby) said that liquor was Knox's trouble. His Honour; Is there anywhere he can be sent to work where he cannot get liquor? Mr Darby: It's very difficult: there is plenty of work away from licensed places if this man would only stay there. Knox was remanded to appear on Wednesday,