THE DRUCE CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9120, 13 April 1908, Page 5

THE DRUCE CASE.

SENTENCE ON MARY ROBIN SON. H ■ Press Association —Copyright. London, April 11. \ The trial of Mary Robinson for perjury in connection with the Druce case has concluded. Mr Avory declared that the offence was the worst possible, and was committed solely from sordid motives. Mr Marshall Hall, for the defence, pleaded that prisoner had been cruelly and wickedly duped. She was a mere puppet in the hands of a master mind who was guiding the conspiracy. Her crime was indefensible and he asked for leniency only in view of the special circumstances of the case.

Mr Justice Walton said he did not wish to make any imputation against any particular individual in relation to the prisoner. He was satisfied that she was tempted to commit perjury. He emphasised the very serious mischief arising from the promotion of companies for adopting or maintaining shadowy claims to property and the willingness of a public of infinite credulity to contribute money to such schemes. He commented on the institution of a criminal proceeding in support of the monstrous claim and added that Mrs Robinson was only acting, doubtless, on pressure, and yielded to temptation. Her age was the only mitigating circumstance weighing with him, otherwise he would have imposed the maximum sentence of seven years. He would sentence prisoner to four years’ imprisonment.