POLICE SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1479, 13 June 1905, Page 3

POLICE SCANDAL.

THE THIEVES SENTENCED. (Her Press Association.) Dunodin, last night. The police scandal oases came boforo the Supreme Court to-day, when Edward Quill, a constable, was tried an a oharge of stealing a ring, pieces of cloth, hair clipping machine, tobaooo pipes, and various other artiolss. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was defended by A. C. Hanlon. After the evidenoo Hr Haulon addressed the jury. He contended that what the Crown said in efifeot was that because a man earning 7s 6d a day had three pipes and about a pound of tobacco in his possession, the jury must find he was a thief. Witnesses did not protend to say the articles were the property of their employers. All they said was that the goods wero like their em ployers’. Beyond that the Crown would not go. The jury, alter a quarter of an hour's retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty, and Quill was discharged. Thomas Moses, aged -28, and James McDonald, aged 31, who bad previously been found guilty, were then brought up for sentence.

The Crown Prosecutor said Moses was convicted in 1890 of theft from a dwelling, and received three months’ probation. In 1895 he was convicted of chop-breaking, and ordored to come up when called on He then went with a contingent to South Africa, and on his return was appointed to the permanent artillery, and subsequently drafted into the police. The convictions were not known or he would not have been appointed to the police. As to McDonald, he had served in tbo police for 7£ yearß, and there was nothing against him. Moses was then sentenced to five years’, and McDonald to three years’ hard labor. Oliver Henry Osborne was also sentenced to three years.