WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 16 May 1907, Page 4

WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED

END OP GREAT PERJURY CASE

Tho heroine oi 13 confessions canv> lioforo tho Common Sergeant at tho Contra I Criminal Court, London, in 1 tho poison oT Millicont Marsh, 19, a nursemaid, who was found guilty of committing wilful and corrupt perjury in tho trial of Georgo Honry 1 Lewis, at AVillosdon Police Court and Aliddlesox Sessions at tho ■ ' d of last 1 year. It will bo romor.Ai.--od that Marsh swore that Lewis w...s the man who was in Kilburn on tV' night of September 29, when a forged cheque was cashed. Lowis was sontonced to three yoarj’ ponal sorvitudo, tho soil tonco being subsequently reduced to lo months. Then Duncan Brady confessed that it was ho who cashed the cheque, on which .Lewis was released, and Marsh was arrested. Slio was found guilty of perjury, and the jury recommended her to mercy on .the ground of her ago, her antecedents, and because she had been dominated by a stronger mind than her own. Mr. Grantham, in a statement on behalf of Marsh, said sho was a woman —as had been suggested by a lady who was temporarily stopping at Holloway, and saw something of prisoner there—keenly susceptible to outside impressions, and quick to bo influenced by the thoughts of others. Air. Grantham quoted from tho speech of the King in opening the now courts: “It is well that crime should be punished ; it is better that tho prisoner should bo reformed. Under tho present laws tho mercy shown to first offenders is, I am assured, often tho moans of re-shaping their lives.” Many people from various parts of tho country had taken an interest on her behalf, and tho court missionaries at tho Old Bailey and the Westminster Court had made a joint report and a home had already been provided for tho girl. Air. France, tho court missionary, said that if prisoner was now bound over, a home at Leicester was open to her. The Common Serjeant asked Marsh whether sho was willing to go into a homo, where sho woidd bo taken care of, and whore a situation would bo found for her when sho was fit for it, and she nodded iu assent and gave way to tears. The Common Serjeant said the court had determined that sho need not be sent to prison, but should go to a home, where she would bo taken care of, and put in the way of obtaining a situation when sho was fit for it. She was then hound over in tho,.sum ol (£2O to como up for judgment if called upon.