Bookmaker Gets Nine Months for Bribery

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 908, 27 February 1930, Page 1

Bookmaker Gets Nine Months for Bribery

“GRAFT OF WORST TYPE” PRESENTS TO DETECTIVES From Our Oum Correspondent. HAMILTON, Today. The Supreme Court was crowded this morning to hear the sentence pronounced by Mr. Justice Smith on Harry Samuels, a tailor, of Hamilton, who was found guilty on Monday last of charges of bribing Detective-Ser-geant J. Thompson and Detective Alfred John White.

Mr. R. A. Singer made a strong plea for leniency, pointing out that Samuels was not a criminal nor of criminal instincts. He had simply been guilty of a grave indiscretion. He said public sentiments would be greatly relieved if his Honour would extend the merciful provisions of the Police Offences Act by inflicting a fine or extending probation. His Honour might think the prisoner had already suffered sufficiently and open •the door of mercy to him. Addressing the prisoner, his Honour said he had listened carefully to counsel’s eloquent and moving plea. His duty was undoubtedly a very difficult one in view of the fact that, apart from bookmaking and this particular case, prisoner seemed to have been a good business citizen. His Honour said he must, however, give consideration to the nature of the offence. The detectives were to be commended for the prompt and skilful action which they took and the jury on its thoroughly honest verdict. “I cannot shut my eyes to the fact that your case strikes at the very roots of the security of the administration of the law. It was graft, and graft of the worst type, and if it were encouraged it would have calamitous effects. Recently the evil effects of bribery were shown in the Goddard case in London.” The prisoner, added his Honour, could have elected to have been dealt with summarily, in which case the maximum penalty would have been 12 months’ gaol. He chose, however, to be dealt with by the Supreme Court, hoping, no doubt, that the jury would not be entirely true to its duty in spite of very conclusive evidence. His Honour said a deterrent sentence must be imposed and sentenced prisoner to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour.