TWENTY STROKES OF THE CAT.

Shannon News, 16 February 1926, Page 3

TWENTY STROKES OF THE CAT.

Sentence of sevnn jems penal servitude and twenty strokes of the cat was passed by Mr. Justice Avory at the Surrey Assizes, Guildford, on J ohn Henry Clarke, thirty-two, butler, who pleaded guilty to robbery, being armed, robbery with violence, theft and inducing Mrs, Richardson, wife of Colonel Richardson, the breeder of dogs, of Clock House, Byfleet, to execute a cheque for payment of £45 by threats.. He was also charged with demanding from Mrs Richardson £c> by menaces and forging and uttering a cheque for £7B •with intent to defraud. Ida Clarke, who was similarly charged, was sentenced to three years penal servitude. . Mr. H. D. Rooroe, prosecuting, said that the man and woman were en. gaged by Colonel Richardson as butler and cook and described how on May 16. when the colonel was away on holiday, Mrs Richardson was bound to a chair and gagged ana saw the woman prisoner collecting silver and other articles while the man stood over her with Colonel Richardson's revolver. Later the man removed the gag, and when asked by Mrs Richardson if he would take a sum of money and leave the valuables behind, he agreed to accept £SO. \ She gave him £5 in cash and a cheque fro £45. He then unfastened the cord and, pointing a revolver at her, made her go "upstairs. When she came downstairs again the man tied her up again and the woman came in armed with a pistol. The man took a pearl and diamond necklace from Mrs. Richardson's neck, removed her earrings and also took a pendant. After they had gone Mrs Richardson was able to cut her bonds with a knife which the woman had left. Superintendent Boshier, said tnat Clarke was convicted twice in 1912, on the first occasion getting tnree months* imprisonment for stealing o kit bag and on the isecond twelve monthes for stealing a typewriter. He was known to the police, under the names of Clarke, Seymour, Stapel and Stapel Watt. The woman prisoner was not his wife, although last month at south, end, where there was a charge against them of stealing property, she was discharged on the ground that she had been coerced by her husband. The real wife Avas in Court. The woman prisoner had no previous convictions against her Clarke was in the Merchant Service until the outbreak of the war, when he joined the Hussars and went overseas and was wounded. He obtained a commission in the Royal Fusiliers in 1917 and was wounded in 191 S. He was demobilised in 1919 being then a lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps. Afterwards he went into the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary and was discharged in 1922 with a good character and the rank "of squadron .leader.