CRIME PUNISHED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 45, 17 November 1919, Page 6

CRIME PUNISHED

EX-BURNHAM BOY A WARNING FROM THE JUDGE In tho Supremo Court on Saturday morning His Honour Mr. Justice _ Hosking passed sentence- on four prisoners who pleaded guilty to various charges in tho Supreme Court and on Herbert Maloney, who was found guilty by a jury, and W. J. Mayer who pleaded guilty alter a partial hearing.- .. August Herbert Maloney, who was found guilty of obtaining by false pretences nino cases of whisky from several city firms/ alleging that they wero for George Nash, of Wadestown, was tho first to appear in the <lock, and was represented by Mr P. Broad. Counsel stated that the prisoner had a fair list of convictions, about 15 in all, but the only serious one was for forging— converting a fourth standard certificate into a fifth standard one, in order to get into tho railway service. On that occasion ho was admitted to probation for a period of two years. Tho other serious offeiico aroso out of his quarrel with Nasli, when he assaulted a policeman, and Ihe other offences were breaches of his prohibition order. His prohibition order expired in August. His Honour-. Then he proceeded to order all this whisky. ; •• Counsel: The order expired in August, 191 S. Continuing, counsel said that tho prisoner had already been in gaol for seven weeks, having been unable to obtain bail. His Honour said it appeared that the prisoner's trouble was due to drink; and it would be a good thing for him if lie wero kept away from it. Tho prisoner was sentenced to three years' reformative treatment. FORGERY AND THEFT.. William Joseph Mayer, for whom Mr. 11. F. O'Leary appeared, was the next to appear in tho dock. Counsel. said that oeforo pleading for the prisoner ho wished to call a witness. W. A.' Grcnfell, secretary of tho Em-ployers'-Association, said that he had known Mayer for about six years, and. previous to'that they knew his wife. Tho two families had been in fairly close touch. Ho had foundj Mayer a truthful and simple-minded man, and a homely and faithful husband. His past con--duct made it impossible for witness to believe that he could havo been guilty of such an offence. Witness was not aware that Mayer gambled. Had witness known he would readily have found Mayer tho money ho required. Mayer had pleaded guilty to falsifying two ieceipts from the State Fire Ofiico and with failing to account for moneys belonging to the Post OiF.ce , Pastimes Club. Mr. O'Leary slated that Mayer started in tho Post Office 29 years ago as a messenger boy and had worked himself up to the position of chief clerk. He had recently been transferred from Wellington to Hastings, at an advance 'of salarv from JC26O to JC3SO. Tho start of his troublo was duo to tho lax methods of the club. When ho prepared his balance-sheet and found he could not account for moneys, lie commenced to alter his books. If a proper check had been kept he would not have been here to-' day. He had lost his position in the Post Office and that in itself was a severe punishment. Tho man's colleagues in tho office very much regretted what had happened. Continuing, counsel said he could not ask for probation, but as this was a case whom tho man was not likely to again como before the Court he suggested that the prisoner should be ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. ~, , His Honour said that that might bo done, but tho prisoner should consent iO judgment at the suit of tho Pastimes Club for XIOO and then it would bo for tho club to enforce the order as the man was able to pay. His Honour wanted to know that the man was going to some employment. He desired that tho prisoner 'should have some definite employment and to enable him to secure this senlcnio was deferred for a.month and tho prisoner was liberated on his srevious bail. ' EX-BURNHAM YOUTH. . \n ox-Bui-nham Industrial School mmato named Alan Heutscho, 16 years of age, who pleaded Ruilty in the Magistrate's Court to the theft of a gold watch and chain and other goods and a cheque for .£3O Is. and nostal notes, was the next to be sentenced. His Honour said.-tlie la<! seemed to bo uncontrollable.; ~ , , What'did yon do with tho ch?que? asked His Honour.-"I burnt it, replied the prisoner. " . His Honour: What did you do will the ring?—"l threw it away, because it had initials on it, and I did not want it to be found on me." His Honour: You seem to be a cautloun person. I understand from the report that you are given to a vicious practice, and if you do not restrain yourself you will end up in a mental hospital. Tho prisoner was sentenced to four years' reformative treatment. ADMITTED TOPROBATION. Mr. A. W. Blair appeared for Leonard Guy Walls, 2G years of age, who pleaded guilty in the lower Court to having made a falso declaration to the Registrar of Marriages at Nelson. Mr. Blair explained that whatever the prisoner had dono he hurt no one. Ho deserted from the Navy and assumed tho name of Walls. He enlisted under that name and was wounded. His wifo knew about the change of name. His Honour stated that the probation officer's report gave tho man a good charneter. "I think he would_ have got off had he been tried before a jury." v Walls was placed on probation for twelve months, and was ordered to pay £i 18s. Gd., the costs of the prosecution, within that period. ' FALSE DECLARATION. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for Alice Fabian, who had pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to making a false declaration. The woman had been a barmaid and got married. Her husband failed to support her, and she went to Sydney, .subsequently returning to- New Zealand with a view to beooming a barmaid again o)ut found she could not do that because she was not registered. She had three children to maintain and found work as a cook. Later she met Maggie M'Grath, a barmaid, who was leaving for Sydney, and from the latter she unbtrauod ft barmaid's- certificate with permission to use it. i She assumed tho name of Maggie M'Grath and obtained a position as barmaid. The'certificate was subsequently destroyed in a fire, and it was when applying for a new certificate that the false declaration was made. His Honour said that he recognised that the woman had had a. hard tinio in maintaining herself and her children. She was admitted to probation for twelve months and ordered to pay .£8 17s. Bd., the costs of tho prosecution. THEFT AND FORGERY. John Reginald Ellis pleaded guilty to stealiii" a money order telegram and postal notes at Fcatherston. and forging tho name of the real owner of the documents; also to forging and uttering a Post Office Savings Bank receipt for „4; theft of a suit of clothes, and aim of ton soldiers' railway warrants valued at .£(10. Prisoner was r.ot represented by counsel. According to the police report he went to the front with an early remforcpmonlt, was wounded and a, prisoner in Germany, whore ho received harsh treatment. His father and mother died durinr tho coidemic, and this, it was alleged, upset him. He returned to Now Zealand in Anril last. It transpired that the prisoner had been found gmltv nt Neweastle-nn-Tvno of theft from soldiers. Tn answer to His Honour the prisoner said ho was willing to give (in order for tho ,M to be refunded and the cost uf the suit of clothes to- be tn-o-vided out of his gratuity. The other goods wero recovered. Ellis was sentenced to two years' reformative treatment. __________ Sufferers from Bronchitis or Asthma will get marked relief from "NAZOL." Take on sugar or through a Nazol Inhaler. Sold everywhere. 00 doses Is. fid.-Advt. Kitchen economy demands the use of SHARLAND'S Baking Powder. Costs less than others—gives better results.' Your grocer sells it.—Advt. ' '