"DESPERATION."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 4

"DESPERATION."

UNEMPLOYED HUSBAND'S ACT,

(By Telosraph.—Frcoi AtoooUUoa.)

™ i w Auckland, May 22. Charles Windle, 25 yoars of age, coin* before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., thib morning ior sentenoe, on charges of having stolen six bicycles, and a watch and chain.

Counsel said that Windlo was only a boy 111 yoars, and he had a wifo a year younger than' himself and a child bom in March, lie had been in a small business us a chemist in England, but his health broke down, and ho was ordered away for his health, with tho result that lie came to New Zealand twelve months ago with his wife. H« 'had worked as a chemist's assistant, and, later, in a jeweller's shop, but the wages were only £2 a week. Ho endeavoured to get bettor work, but that resulted in his fitting out of work altogether, and ho aud his wifo wero on the point of starvation. For 6omo time he coucoaled from his wifo tho fact that ho was unemployed, and, in order to get money for food, entered on a 60ries of thefts, selling the stolen goods. It was a caso of desperation, caused by hunger.

His Worship thought that thore was littlo doubt that accused did not fully recogniso his responsibilities. In other circumstances, he would have been given a torm of years of reformative treatment. It was, however, impossible that he should not be punished at all, and lib would bo sentenced to two months' hard labour.