SUPREME COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1405, 3 April 1912, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

PRISONERS SENTENCED. A CAREER OF THEFT. 0 THE "MANSIONS" BOBBERY. Three prisoners, who had pleaded guilty to charges in the Magistrate's Court, camo up for sentence before Mr. Justice Chapman in tho Supreme Court yesterday morning. Mr. T. Neavo appeared for the Crown. Henry Fraser Marshall, alias Eraser, convicted of theft of jewellery from the Mansions Private Hotel, was not represented by counsel. From'the police report furnished to his Honour, it appeared that Marshall had been convicted on numerous previous occasions. A telegraph operator bv occupation, he was born about 28 years 'ago in Monro Video, South America, and first came under the notice of the New Zealand police at Clmstcliureh in 100,1 Sinco then he had teen convicted eighteen times for theft, cmce lor forgery, and once for false pretences, and if he had served all tho sentences passed on Mm ho would have served eight, years and nine months in the gaols of the Dominion. A couple of rears ago he developed .1 tendency to steal overcoats from hotels, and after scrying a sentence for a series of these thefts he appears to Slave turned his attention to I church porches. Recently he was employed as a "rouseabout" at the Mansions Pri'vato Hotel in Ghuznee Street, but was dismissed from there a couple of months ago. On March 15 he returned to the Mansions, entered apparently by means of tho fire escape, and decamped with two diamond rings, and a. gold watch chain and locket, of a total value of .£ls. Subsequently he was apprehended by Detectives Kemp and Hammond. Prisoner had nothing to say in reply to .tho formal querv as to why the sentence of tho Court should not bn pa=sed on him. His Honour, after referring (0 the prisoner's record, said that tho only provision in tho New Zealand law for dealing with such a class of criminal was to treat him as a habitual criminal. "There is no. difficulty in getting work iit ' this country," added his Honour, addressing the prisoner, "hut yf.u prefer ' ii life of crime. There is now a provision in our law for men .if your class. You will be. sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment

with hard labour, and declared a. habitual criminal."" An order "was made (hat the stolen goods, which had l>een recovered, should be returned to the owner. "NOT RESPONSIBLE." SENTENCE DEFERRED. A middle-aged man, named Alfred Nelson, was brought up for sentence on a charge of indecency. Mr. Neavo staled that thero were previous convictions against the accused for similar offences. The Terrace gaoler, who had known the accused for a.bout twenty-five years, declared that Nelson was "half-witted," and clearly not responsible for his actions. Imprisonment did not seem to have any beneficial effect on him.

His Honour said ho would have to consider what should bo done with the prisoner, for whose class there was really no proper provision. Up ayoulcl be remanded in tho meantime, and sent for when required. "EASILY LED." ' A YOUNG WOMAN'S LAPSE. In the care of. a young woman, named Mabal Edith Dickenson, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery r.nd to a further charge of sending a false telegram, Mr. 11. V. O'Lcary asked his Honour to lake a lenient view of tho offence. The prisoner had bsen left motherless at 5 vears of ago and had earned her own living as a domestic servant since she was II years of age. Tho chief trouble appeared to be that she was easily led by companions. Unfortunately, probation could not be granted as there was a previous conviction, but his Honour might record a conviction and order prisoner to come up for sentence when called on. The Salvation Army authorities were willing to take her \n and the prisoner herself was anxious to go to tho homo for a period Tathcr than to gaol. His Honour said ho was inclined to give tho prisoner another chance, though he might bo taking a risk, as she appeared to have had two chances already. Sho would be convicted and ordered to conio

up for sentence when called upon, on condition that sho went to the Salvation Army Home for 12 months, and that her future behaviour was good.,