DECLARED AN HABITUAL CRIMINAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 816, 13 May 1910, Page 8

DECLARED AN HABITUAL CRIMINAL.

. $ . "IN TROUBLE FOE THE PAST' ' ... FOETY YEiRS."- . ■••-•.. .■α-y. (By Tclcerapn.— Press . Christchurch, May 12. When Chas. E. M'Pherson came, before tlie Supreme Court to-day for sentence for tliel'l from tho Spiritualists' Church ho made a long statement, in which ho said his life had been a most unfortunate one. He had been sent to an industrial school for being a neglected'child, aiid since then he had been in tronblo for the past forty'years. After receiving several sentences in Australia ho went to South Africa and committed further crimes. He wns then deported, and left for England; afterwards coming out to New Zealand; but he did not receive a penny on leaving the ship, and landed in , New Zealand penniless. He tried to get work in Now Zealand, but had failed. Mr. Justice Cooper said .he, had no doubt but that what prisoner said was true. If a man could not control his evil tendencies, however, there was a duty both to -accused and to the public to set)' that the man committed no further crimes. Prisoner would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment for theft, and would lie declared an - habitual criminal. That course, would bo as much to the interest of prisoner as to the public. Prisoner would receive training and discipline, ■ and probably would , bo taught a trade, which would enable him to earn his own living when he came out of gaol.