DRAPER'S SENTENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1223, 15 March 1870, Page 3

DRAPER'S SENTENCE.

. -* - The Melbourne Herald thusTefers to tfhe sentence passed on Draper-:— ln every place where business men have gathered -to-day, the subject of conversation has ; been the light sentence passed upon "Draper. Supposing the decision of the jury be not upset on the point raised by Mr Ireland, and the sentence "be -carried into effect, the punishment will not exceed <eight months* imprisonment. Outsiders do not connect this sentence with the -sums for the embezzlement of which Draper was arraigned yesterday, but they •connect it with the total amount of Draper's defalcations, aB Stated by the T>ank'authoritieß. Eight months' imprisonment, and£l6;slß gone from the coffers of the bank, according to the statement •given at the harik meeting. That the jury should be swayed by Mr Ireland's =appeal is not surprising, but that the judge' who presided shonld have given such a sentence is simply beyond comprehension. Business men are astounded, and ask this morning whaft *BUch a sentence means. Parents who have sons in banks say that the moral influence of ■the sentence will ndt be to deter from -crime, but rather to encourage it, as a sentence forthe embezzlement of a lesser' »sum, by any one in <a position <of less -responsibility, will of necessity be of a unuch lighter character. Merchants now -will sufficiently understand that any •dishonest clerks of theirs who choose to -face tbe spending of a few months in •gaol may rob them well nigh with impunity— for if the rogues wiH but ■save their plunder, and not waste it, they tmay come out of gaol, and in t>ther •climates live lusrariously on their illgotten wealfh all the rest of their fives. "We folly expect that petitions will l>e in from all prisoners in the gaol 'for a remission of portion of their ♦sentence. "Toaimy the But" who may liave been sentenced to six months in gaol for some little bit of thimble-rigging «onthe racecourse, lias good grounds for ;askingthat his term of co"rifinement**hould lbe shortened. Every housebreaker, ♦fraudulent insolvent, forger, and *very •other criminal have had san injustice •committed against. them, or else in the <case of Draper a most serious miscarriage •of justice has taken place. A plentiful •cropping up of future Drapers can be the •only restflt df the absurdly lenient pronounced upon the late accountant of the Commercial Bank.