SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED

TWO BAD RECORDS

Tho Ohief Justice (Sir Kobert Stout) fold three prisoners before him for sentence in tho Supremo Court yesterday morning. Arthur Parkinson, an elderly man. had pleaded guilty at Palmerston AorUi, A'apier, and Weliugton to fourteen charges in all of forging and uttering. His Honour asked the prisoner what explanation he had to give. Prisoner: "I think it 15 my unhappy brain. • It seems that if I take a glass of drink it flics to my brain. For iour years and four months I havo been worn, ing honestly. . ■ .Unfortunately my down, fall is these cursed cheques, and I hopo to God Almighty tho next time 1 come out Xatioual Prohibition will be carried and tho hotels made into stables. You can't got a drop of good stuff in llm town. It's awful."

His Honour .referred to the prisoner's record, which was a lengthy one. Prisoner had been declared an habitual criminal somo years before, but had been released by the Prisons Board.

Parkinson was sentenced to three yearß imprisonment, and was again declared an habitual criminal. His Honour ecid that his reason for not imposing a longer term ot imprisonment than three years was that tho evidence showed that when the prisoner was working he did hia work well.

Thomas Edwin Hardwick, a mere youth, but one with a rather long record of offences, came before His Honour for sentence upon a charge of breaking, entering, and theft. He had nothing to aay. His Honour imposed a sentence of two years' reformative detention', to be served at Invercargill. John Eric Hattsen, of Dannevirkc, had pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to cause bodily harm with a "homemade" bomb.

Sir. O'Leary appeared for the prisoner, and submitted that the offence was the result of unfortunate domestic happenings during the last eighteen months or two years. It seemed that the prisoner had lived happily enough with his wife until another man came- to live in the house. About twelve months ago the wife took proceedings to obtain a. separation order, and was successful, the caBO being undefended. She then wont to live with the other man. The prisoner mado nn nma.teur bomb, and placed it on the window-sill of the couple's Tcsidoncc. in such a. position (as he thought) that it would blow outwards instead of inwa.rd?.. Tho_ explosion, however, took the inward course. The- prisoner did not. intend to injure anyone. Counsel suggested that the wise might bo met by binding Mattscn over to keep the peace. His Honour said that he realised tt,at the prisoner had had very grave provooa. tion. He would adjourn the matter till 9.30 to-day, and wonld in tho meantime consider what could he dono.