Evening star., 1952-12-21
1angier Pirate Given
3 Years Amid Carols
And Vincent Adieus
By the Associated Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
TANGIER, International Zone,
Morocco, Dec. 20.-A United States
consular court today sentenced a
nylon panty manufacturer from
Jersey City to three years i'm
Iprisonment in a high seas piracy
case-the hijacking of 100000
worth Of American cigarettes from
a Dutch vessel.
Sindey H. CNylon Sid) Paley,
80. who said he hates the sight of
the sea and is frightened by guns
of any sort. was convicted of help
ing mastermind the armed attack
on the 300-ton Dutch motorship
Combinatie in the Mediterranean
off Spain october 4.
Carols Sung Below.
Paley's trial was the first Of
several to be held in France and
before mixed tribunal here in
volving piracy in this thriving
trade. It was conducted in the
dining room of the American
Legation.
Downstairs, children of the
American school rehearsed Christ
mas carols. In the salon, Minister
John Carter Vincent received dip
lomats of other nations paying
farewell calls.
Consular Judge Milton j. Hell
mick returned the verdict on the
Barbary Coasts first reported
piracy since World War II and
the first ever to be handled by an
American consular court.
Civilians Overruled.
Overruling his two civilian as
Isociates, Judge Helmick found
Paley guilty on two counts of aid
ing and plotting the piracy with a
fugitive New York adventurer.
Elliott Forrest, 20.
Forrest was named as the leader
Of the attack, staged by six hooded
men with machineguns from the
chartered motorship Esme.
Although Paley took no part in
this action, the law holds him
equally responsible. Judge Helmick
sentenced him to three years on
each count, but ruled the sentences
should be served concurrently.
Judge Helmick's civilian associa-
teS in the court-Thomas Green
iSh of Mackay Radio and Charles
LichtenSteiger, a banker - dis
sented although this did not alter
the judges verdict, it automatic
ally appealed the case to the
American Minister here.
Vincent Called Home.
There is some confusion now
whether it will be reviewed by the
successor to Mr.. Vincent, sus-
pended as Minister to Tangier
by the State Department, or the
next in command in the legation
Mr.. Vincent was summonded
home December Is after a loyalty
review board ruled that there
is. reasonable doubt as to his
loyalty"
Under rules governing consular
courts, the minister has three
choices. He may uphold the
sentences. call for a new trial or
retry the case himself.
The Government attornel, Neal
Ruge. did not ask for the maxi
mum penalty of 20 years since
Paley had not been previously
convicted of a crime, but he op-
posed a defense suggestion that
the defendant be returned to the
United States and placed on pro-
baton.
One of the mitigating factors,
Mr.. Ruge said, was that Paley
merely helped plan the hijacking,
while Forrest carried it out.
Continued in $4,000 Bail.
This. of course, may only prove
that Forrest had more courage
than Paley. or that he didn't take
part because he got seasick," Mr..
Ruge said.
| Paley was continued in $4,000
bail-made up of cash and his
cream -colored Cadillac convertible.
After sentence he thanked the
prosecutor and court in a voice
choked with emotion.
During the three-day trial,
Paley said he drank nothing
stronger than soft drinks and knew
nothing about guns and was
afraid of them.
Folloy ing this testimony, Paley's
counsel, Jack Bohanna. laughingly
dubbed his client "Paley the
pirate" and poked fun at Mr..
Ruge's references to Capt. Kidd,
the British pirate, whose trial in
1701 had been cited in court to
uphold a point of evidence.
COntradicts Skipper.
The chief witness against Paley
was an Australian sea captain,
Ernest Townsend, former skipper
of Paley's boat. the Laloun. Town
send, whom the prosecution de-
| TnCT