TWELVE YEARS FOR CAFFREY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40021, 9 November 1929, Page 3

TWELVE YEARS FOR CAFFREY.

1 • A FOUL CRIME RAYS THE JUDGE.

Auckland, Yesterday,

Twelve years’ imprisonment with hard labour was imposed on George Caffrey, aged 34, a quarter-caste negro, on a charge of the manslaughter of Thomas Leavy. When Mr. Justice Smith pronounced sentence in the Supreme Court Caffrey was apparently unmoved, but his wife was removed sobbing bitterly. His Honour said: “The jury has found you guilty of manslaughter with a strong recommendation to mercy. A ! reasonable inference from that was that someone else, was there. Who that person was is not for me or any judicial person lo say at the present time, but it is crystal clear .that Leavy would not have been foully done to death in his own home, but for you. If another man was there and had •anything to do with the stabbing it was clear that you took hini there following your bent to assault, actually with violence, and if not to hill. It can scarcely be said that. Leavy gave you any provocation at all and I think that both the Grown Prosecutor and myself went to the full length we ought to have gone in suggesting to the jury a verdict of manslaughter. I will, ’however, take the jury’s view that you did not actually do the stabbing. But I must take into account that but for you and your violent attitude no crime would have been committed. In the circhmstanees and in view of your previous record, I can do no other, in .view of the jury’s recommendation to vmercy, than impose a substantial term of imprisonment. The sentence of the Court is that you be .sentenced’ to hard labour for a -period- of twelve years.”