Corpun file 22642

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, 17 December 1938

Judge Orders Birching

Robbery Under Arms

MELBOURNE, December 16.

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A young man and three youths who pleaded guilty in General Sessions to-day to robbery under arms were ordered by Judge MacIndoe to receive 10 strokes of the birch. One accused aged 16½, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

By the use of firearms the youths had undoubtedly caused great terror and shock to their victims, particularly to the women who were held up, said the judge.

He sentenced James Edward Berryman (16½) to imprisonment for five years with hard labour on four counts of robbery under arms, and ordered him to be privately whipped with 10 strokes of the birch.

Leslie Wood (19), who pleaded guilty to three charges, and Raymond Charles Lloyd (19) and Allan Herbert McArthur (25), who pleaded guilty to one charge, were each sentenced to imprisonment for three years. Each was also ordered 10 strokes of the birch.