CRIME PUNISHED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 295, 7 September 1920, Page 6

CRIME PUNISHED

EIGHT PRISONERS SENTENCED

Eight prisoners were brought up for sentence in the Supremo Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Salniond.

Sinclair Gordon Cook was arraigned on three charges of theft at ralmerston North, Dannevirke, ami Napier, and one charge of escaping from custody. Tlio prisoner put in a plea for leniency on the score that he was only n young man and had stolen in order to pay his way. His Honour reminded Cook that, although only 22 years of age, lie had a large record of crime against him. At present he was out on suspended sentence, and it was apparent that it was no use showing him any further leniency. Prisoner was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labour on eacbl charge, terms to bo concurrent, and ordered to be detained at the expiration thereof for three years' reformative treatment. Concurrent with his other sentences, Cook will serve three months for escaping from custody. Thomas Ching Ting, a young Chinese, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of forging and uttering in the Lower Court, wns represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson. Counsel said- thiat the prisoner, who was a very well educated youth, had patronised the Chinese gambling dens, with the inevitable result. His Honour pointed to the fact that reports us to the prisoner's character were bad. He had got to be taught a pretty sharp lesson. The sentence of the Court was one year's imprisonment with hard labour. Frank Williams, a middle-aged labourer, was fined £10, with the option of one month's imprisonment, on a charge ot making a false statement under the. Births and Registration Act. which he had admitted in the Lower Court, the police report as to Williams's character wns satisfactory. . . 4. similar penalty was imposed on Elizabeth Qucenie Sink, a young girl ot respectable parentage. The prisonei pleaded guilty in the Lower Couit to making a false declaration in respect to the birth of her illegitimate child. Henry Hubert Silk, who stole over ,£2OO from the Grand Opera House, Wellington, recently, came up for sentence on his fifth conviction, for theft. Prisoner, in asking for leniency, stressed the fact that his latest crime was not a premeditated one. Silk came to Jjev, Zealand in 1914 as a stowaway from b. fluey, at which place ho was convicted for theft in 1912. Si'nco then he had fallen- foul of the law oil several occasions both in New South Wales and New Zealand. . , His Honour ordered prisoner to undergo two years' imprisonment withhard labour, to be followed with reformative treatment for not more than l,y Mr. H. F. O'Leaw on behalf of William Banks, who had pleaded guilty to two ofteuces of breaking and entering and thett at. Wellington, that the prisoner had materially assisted the police m securing the committal of the alleged principal in the jobberies in question. Counsel added that Banks had not been before the Court bete, and that his health was "in sentencing Banks to one years' imprisonment on each charge-sentences to bo coneurrent-Hife Honour said that but for the assistance he had rendered the police ho would have been sent to gaol for it much longer term. A female associate of Banks named Isabella Cousins, with whom he had been liv/ng for the past ten years, was placed on probation for one year. The woman had pleaded guilty to one offence of perjury and two offences of making a false statement. The offences took placo when, for the purpose of obtaining a maintenance order she swore ill the Lower Court that Banks was her husband and the father of her children. "I ran only express extreme regret and ftsk for leniency," was the statement' of Charles Valentine AtkHns, who tonic up for sentence on a charge of theft of m from the Defence Department at Fcatherston while connected with tho camp pay office. The sentence of the Court was six mouths' imprisonment wvth hard labour. .