On November 14, 1930, British Columbia’s chief justice, Aulay MacAulay Morrison, handed down severe sentences to 21 criminals, totaling 87 years in prison and 75 lashes. The punishments were particularly harsh for bank robbers and drug offenders, reflecting the era’s tough stance on crime. Morrison sentenced William Sigmund to five years and 20 lashes for two bank holdups, including one at the Royal Bank of Canada and another at the Bank of Commerce, where he also faced attempted murder charges. Two accomplices in the Bank of Commerce robbery and one in the Royal Bank heist received similar sentences.
Drug dealers Charles Marino and Frank C. Yipp were each given five years and 10 lashes, while Robert Duncan got two years and five lashes for assault. The use of corporal punishment was not limited to Morrison; Judge H.C. Shaw also imposed a three-year sentence and 20 lashes on a holdup convict, drawing praise from a Vancouver Sun editorial. The editorial argued that lashes deterred professional criminals, stating, 'The sting of the lash is never lost.'
The severity of these punishments sparked controversy, particularly regarding young offenders. A letter from 'A Mother' criticized the lashings, questioning how parents would feel if their sons were whipped. In contrast, 'A Citizen' defended the practice, asserting that lashes would reduce crime and commending Shaw’s courage in administering them.