Duke, Gaoled

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 9

Duke, Gaoled

THE crima of robbery wf.th.vio-. * lence i 8 punishable with imprisonment* for life, Mr. Justice MacQroflor, m the Wellington Supreme Court last weak, told Thomas Duke, when he appeared for sentence, following his plea of guilty to that offence m the capital city recently. „£ To his honor, Duke a seafaring man, said that any offence he ever committed was the result of. drink, as m the present instance. He hoped his honor would take this Into consideration when passing sentence and be as lenient a$ possible. •■" ■ But the judge did not look upon the offence with too lenient an eye, remarking to prisoner: "You are liable to imprisonment for life for this offence of robbery with vlolenoe. . "You assaulted and robbed a Chinaman, an inoffensive storekeeper. The senterffce of the court is that you be imprisoned for three years with hard labor." .