Person Page - 123

From the "Port Pirie Recorder, 27th November 1915
     William Henry Slee, a young man of about 28 years of age, and the owner of 5000 odd acres of pastoral land in the Wirrabara district, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Mr.Justice Gordon at the Gladstone Criminal Court on Friday on several charges of cattle stealing. The case excited widespread in terest, and the Courthouse was crowded with squatters and farmers from the northern districts. Slee is a married man with one child, and had the reputation of being an exceptionally smart stock dealer. He was represented by Mr. Stuart Ronald, of Port Pirie who made a strong appeal to the jury on the two first charges, of which the accused was acquitted. On a third count, however, a verdict of "guilty'"was returned, and Mr. Justice Gordon passed a sentence of three years' imprisonment on the prisoner.
     Addressing the accusad His Honor (according to the Areas Express) said '*It was very sad to see a man coming from good family, found guilty of so serious an offence. I am bound to say that in the two previous charges of which you were acquit ted the jury showed you every consideration and gave you the benefit of every doubt. With the verdict I entirely agree. This is only one of a long series of depredations and robbery from people who could badly afford to be robbed. I will take into consideration your youth and previous good character and hope you will never appear again. You are liable to eight years' imprisonment, and owing to the wholesale manner in which you have carried on your nefarious practices I cannot order you less than three years' imprison
ment with hard labor."
     On three other charges Slee pleaded guilty. Mr. Ronald appealed strongly for leniency, and said the accused was prepared to make full reparation to the stock-owners who had suffered through his acts. He asked that no further sentences be imposed, but that the one already awarded be allowed to stand for the whole of the charges.The Judge re marked that he had given great consideration to the statements of Mr. Ronald and had listened earnestly Fix this textto his appeal, which he would accede to. The accused would there fore be sentenced to three years' imprisonment on each of the three charges, the sentences to be concurent. If the prisoner's conduct is exemplary while in gaol the term will only be of two years duration.³