SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED. In the Supreme Court on Saturday morning, Ilis Honour tte Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) passed sentence on three prisoners. Mr. J. l'rondeville, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for the Crown. , James Groves, guilty at Dannevirke of making a false declaration under the Marriage Act, was isked if he had anything to say. Prisoner said that he had been at the front for three years. He had given way to drink, and was under the influence of liquor \when he committed tKe offence., ' His Honour: That makes it worse. .Prisoner: I have not been before Your Honour previously. His Honour: You have boon before the Magistrate on Ave occasions. Liquor is the trouble with you, as it is with ninetenths of the. returned soldiers who come before the Court. Groves was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Joseph Humphrey Roberts, who pleaded guilty at Wellington ou March 5 to, having, on February 20, forged the name of H. Brittfiin to a cheque on the Bank of New Zealand for ilfl, and uttered it to Francis Richard Cannon, with intent that it should be- acted upon as though it were genuine, was the next to come""up for sentence. Mr. P. W. Jackson, who appeared for the prisoner, said s that this was the first occasion on which Roberts,- had been' before the Court, and the offeree lie' liad committed was due entirely to his' iutcmperate habits. It was ■ during a drinking ljout that lie forged and uttered the cheque. .The prisoner'was a married man, and the r&me' he forged to the document was that (f his own fathei-in-kw.\ His Honour: He is rot suffering from influenza, and that is tie'only excuse now for taking' liquor. Mr. Jackson: I 'do not erge influenza as an exouse. If some restriction could be placed on the man he would be quite' alright. His Honour: If ;.'ou .could give mo an assurance that he would not "bo able to obtain Jiquor, your suggestion may bo acted upon. Mr. Jackson: I may be able to give that assurance later on. His Honour sentenced (lie prisoner to twelve months' detention in Roto Roa Inebriates' Home,. A youth named Alfred Patrick Broome, who pleaded guiltv at Palmerston North to two charges of theft, was sentenced to two years'. reformative detention at Invercargill.