LAW REPORTS.,

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1122, 9 May 1911, Page 3

LAW REPORTS.,

_' SUPREME COURT. FOUR PRISONERS SENTENCED. REFORMATIVE DETENTION. Pour prisoners who had pleaded guilty in the lower Courts were sentenced yesterday morning by his Honour Mr. Justic* Chapman. Mr. T. Neave appeared for the Crown. Reginald Reidy, alias Willie Peters, had pleaded guilty at Ohakune to a charge of stealing from a dwelling at, Tangiwai, the sum of XC, the property of Thomas Tomsctt. Mr. Neave said the prisoner, a lad of 17; was convicted at Wanganui in March of last year, on a charge of theft, and sent to the institution at Wereroa. He escaped and was recaptured. It was further reported by the police that he was now also awaiting trial on another charge, and that his personal character was bad. His Honour said: "I think the best treatment for a boy of your character is to be sent back to school. I shall send you to, a somewhat different school to what you havo been accustomed to, but one in which you-will be taught something useful, l'ou will be sentenced to two years' detention for reformative purposes." Reformative Detention. A young man of 21 named John Hayes, alias Noon, had pleaded guilty in tho Lower Court to a chargt of theft from a dwelling at Ngaio. Mr. R. B: Williams, for the prisoner, said the prisoner worked at a trade and helped to support his mother. Counsel handed to the Judge a letter which ho stated had been written by Dr. Shand concerning the prisoner. He also read- a letter testifying to. the honesty and straightforwardness of the prisoner from A. Raines, Greytown, and similar letters from other people who claimed to have known the prisoner and his family for a number of years. His former schoolmaster also wrote. testifying to tho good behaviour of the prisoner at school.' Counsel asked for leniency and said that but for. the fact that the prisoner' was Supporting his mother, reformative detention would doubtless bo the proper thing' for him. Mr. Neave said the police report was hot good.. Prisoner had been four times previously' convicted of offences committed- at night, and the police regarded him as a rather. undesirable character, inasmuch ns ho appeared to be a nightprowler- The previous convictions, which began in 1907, were for using obscene language, • theft, unlawful gaming, and being a rogue and a vagabond. : His Honour' said the address of prisoner's counsel merely went'in the direc-. tion of showing that prisoner was a proper subject for reformative treatment. To leave him. at large would be treating him in a totally different manner from other criminals,. and would not give tho State the opportunity which it sought of reforming. such young men. Prisoner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, to bo followed by 12 months' detention for reformative purposes. Must Maintain His Wife. : William Nicholas Dalley was placed in the dock to be sentenced for making false declarations in connection with the registration of the birth and death of a child. . ; Mr. P. P.. Kelly said tho prisoner, whom he represented, was a married man with a wife and Child, and had served two terms-of imprisonment for failure to comply with a maintenance order. He had been making an effort to resume the payments under the order. The present charge had reference to the birth and death of an illegitimate child. The birth and death of the child were registered at the same time, and it could not be said that Iho child was injured by the false statements, ...Accused did. not know

at the time that he was committing a crime, in making the falsa statements, and he candidly admitted having-done so. Ho had never been' before a Court on any charge involving dishonesty. If he was not sent to prison, he would undertake to keep up the payments under the maintenance order. Counsel • euggested that, upon that condition, the prisoner should bo placed on probation, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. He bore.the character of a good workman, honest and faithful to his employers. ■Mr. Neave, in reply to his Honour, said the police reported that prisoner was of an indolent, character, and did not actively seek employment. 'There was nothing against him in regard to honesty. His Honour said it would be best to treat the prisoner's present ■ position as a security for the future. .Not long since a young man whom he had released on condition that he was to come up for sentence when called upon, had misbehaved himself again. His Honour, without further trial,- inquired into the facts, and sentenced him to a long term of imprisonment. If the present prisoner failed in maintaining his wife, or if he attempted to leave New Zealand, he would be brought up for sentence. He must understand that he was a prisoner at. large, liable at any time to bo sentenced. He had better make up his mind lo remain in one neighbourhood. In ordering the prisoner to come up for sentence when called upon, his Honour said he could not put him on probation, but ho directed him to report from time to time to the probation officer, and his wife must also report to 'the probation officer as to Whether the prisoner was keeping up the payments. If ho did not do so, inquiries would be made as to whether there was any good reason for his failure, and further steps would be taken accordngly. Theft of Library Books. Wilfrid Henry Scale had admitted stealing five books from the Wellington Public Library, valued at £1, about November, 1903. Mr. It. B. Williams said the prisoner was a first offender,- and the intention to commit the crime of theft might fairly be.urged to be doubtful. Prisoner took certain books from the reference library and kept them for'some years.' Eventually, when in monetary difficulties, he had a job lot of books sold by public auction,, and tlie lot included those belonging to the library. They were not defaced, and the marks showing that, they belonged to the library were untouched. This did not.look like an act of criminal

intent. Counsel asked that prisoner (who had already had ten days in gaol) should be placed on probation, or ordered to come up for sentenco when called on. i Mr. Neave said the police report showed that prisoner was of respectable antecedents, and had not been regarded as dishonest, but was lately discharged from tho Public Works Department for not accounting for moneys which had passed through his hands. His Honour ordered accused to be placed on probation for two years.