SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3101, 4 June 1917, Page 11

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED

The Chief Justice (Sir Hobcrt Stout) presided at the Supreme Court on Saturday.

Allan Wilfred Wolfe, a lad eighteen years of age, who pleaded guilty at Hastings to theft ami forgery, was placed in'tho dock for sentence.

Mr. H. A. Luko appeared for t'he prisoner, and made a strong plea for clemency. Ho 6aid the lad was only eighteen years of ago, and had been brought up on his father's farm at 'l'o Awamutu, where he lived up to a year or eighteen, months ago.

His Honour: Ho received ,£lO in postal notes. 'What became of the money? His statement that he was forced to do this by a. strange man is all humbug. Mr. Luke said tho lad's brother-in-law had promised to make the money good.

His Honour: He was earning M a month on the farm where ho was employed, and then he finds it necessary to steal money. I cannot understand what the young people are coming to. When I was his age I was not getting a third of the money. Mr. Luko said that up to tho present tho boy had no criminal tendency, and if granted probation would return to his parents' home, and would bo under their control.

His' Honour, ; addressing tho prisoner, said: "I will, grant you probation, although 1 doubt whether you deserve it. Ton will be placed, on probation for thft>e years, ordered to refund the stolen money, pay the costs of the prosecution, £5, and you are not to visit any town cxcept To Awamutu for a period of twelve months.

A Sordid Story. Sidney Clarenco M'Carty, a lad who will bo fifteen years of ago in C)ctober next, and who -had pleaded guilty at Mastertou to carnally knowing a girl aged ten years and. nine months, came forward for sentence.

Mr. R. It.: Burridge, wlio appeared on behalf of tho prisoner, said there • wero two features in connection with the case. ..One was the precocity of the little girl, who admitted that she had been tampered with by her own brother, and the other was the frankness with which the prisoner admitted everything. Ho read several letters from those who lenew the prisoner and his family, oil of which were very favourable. A butcher in Masterton wrote to cay that lie was willing to employ the lad as an opprentice. Mr. Burridge pointed ont that' if probation were granted the boy would return to his home, and would como under the influence of his brothers and sisters; he would be at work in the town, and there was every probability that the lad would lead a good useful life. The report of the Probation. Officer was entirely favourable.

ITis Honour said that' the prisoner ivns too young to he soiit to prison. "I will allow you probation for fonr yean. You must report monthly to the Probation Officer, and you must pay £1 per month for six months towards tho cost of the prosecution."