MONSTROUS SENTENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 253, 25 April 1912, Page 3

MONSTROUS SENTENCE

THIRTY YEARS FOR STEALING STICKPINS. The whole nation seems to be interested in the Brandt case that is now agitating New York. This unfortunate man has been in prison for three years, but it seems that not until now has the public awakened to the enormity of a sentence of thirty years for the offence of stealing a couple of stickpins. Indeed Brandt's case might never have been heaard of at all but for some of the disclosures that have attended his application for a pardon. It seems that one of the policemen who swore to the prisoner's bad record has confessed to the grand jury that he knew nothing at all about his record and that his evidence was supplied to him ready made by his superior officers. From the fact that he fainted as he made this confession we may suppose that at last he was speaking the truth, prompted by a somewhat sluggish conscience. Now Brandt may be innocent or he may bo guilty, but there can be no two opinions about such a savage sentence as thirty years' imprisonment or about the abominable means adopted to aggravate his offence. It is to he feared (remarks the Argonaut) that police evidence of this kind is often a matter of routine, and that when testimony is needed for the conviction of friendless prisoners it can usually be, secured. But when police perjury of this kind can be proved as in the present case it should be followed by a retribution severe enough to act as'a deterrent,