THE LOSS OF THE SUSSEX

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 953, 26 March 1872, Page 3

THE LOSS OF THE SUSSEX

After fourteen days' trial Captain Collard was found guilty of imperilling the lives of the crew and passengers of the Sussex by his culpable carelessness. Judge Barry took a day to consider what he would do ; and made up his mind to impose a sentence of imprisonment tor a month. " ; To have fined," lie said, " would have been to show that there was a difference between the rich man and the poor one; and to have passed a severe sentence would have encouraged people to get memorials to the Executive prayirg for a remission of the sentence." Despite the lightness of the sentence, which it is generally admitted tempers justice with leniency, strong efforts are being made, to get the Government to remit it. The " Argus " wisely observes that io ask the Government to condemn the prosecution instituted by itself, and thus to tell both judge and jury that thoroughout the whole of the lengthened proceedings which have taken place they had been participators in an absurd farce, is too much. The " Australian" remarks that after the verdict passengers, shippers, and insurers may "feel more confidence for the time to come. There will be fewer wrecks on our coast, it ventures to predict, after the conviction of Captain Collard, than there were before the impressive warning had been offered to the skippers of our mer'hanfmen.