PRISONERS SENTENCED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2855, 21 August 1916, Page 9

PRISONERS SENTENCED

His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman passed sentence on two prisoners at the Supreme Court on Saturday. STEALING POSTAL PACKETS. Edwin Ernest Culliford, who had pleaded guilty to six charges of having stolen postal packets at Nelson, was represented by Mr. D. U. Boggard. Counsel said that at the time of prisoner's arrest he had made a full confession, and on account of this a strong appeal for leniency was made. Pull restitution had been iMtfie, and prisoner's previous character had been exceedingly good. Counsel added that Culliford was anxious to enlist. He had a wife and three children, the eldest of whom was six and a half, and they were destitute. The drown Prosecutor (Mr. V. B. Meredith) said that the amount of money which had been stolen was not great, and it had all been returned. The prisoner had given the police information which had saved them a great deal oT trouble. Some of the money had been sent to a oertain "sweep." , His Honour said, that he was sorry to have to sentence prisoner to a term of imprisonment, but he could not do otherwise. It was a serious offence, and it was well known in the postal service- that probation was not granted in these cases. Prisoner would be'sentenced to six . months' imprisonment with hard labour.' GIVEN A CHANCE. Taipua Cootes, who had been found guilty of theft of money and jewellery from the Now Zealander Hotel, Baid that ho did not. set out to do the wrong with any plan; it was simply done on tho impulse of the moment. H« asked His Honour to let him out, and he would try to make good. His Honour said that he had considered the'case very carefully, and had decided to convict prisoner"'and order him to come up for sentence if called upon. His Honour then went on to explain what the sentence meant. Cootes had enlisted, and ho was told that he was virtually a prisoner at large. There would be no need for him to commit another crime—if he misbehaved himself anywhere, even in France, he would be punished. Prisoner would be expected to pay £3 towards the costs of the Crown in the case.