“HIS HEAD TURNED”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 13

“HIS HEAD TURNED”

JOHN CANNON SENTENCED TWO YEARS’ REFORMATIVE DETENTION John Charles Cannon, the 22-year-old draughtsman who recently admitted two charges of breaking and entering at Wellington, was sentenced by Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court yesterday. The goods taken amouned to something considerable, but most of them had been recovered, said Mr. W. E. Leicester, who appeared for Cannon. When lie was 16 years old, Cannon had been convicted ami discharge I for theft, but this conviction had been the result of a crowd of hoys entering the Community Club and taking some articles there. His father had died three years ago and since that time he had been m the care of a widowed mother, who had been over-indulgent. lie had appeared in amateur theatricals and done well, and his head had been turned bv flattery. ’ He had been told that ho should' go to Australia or America, and apparently had made everything subservient to his desire to get there. His mother had been unable to supply him with the necessary funds. Cannon’s crimes had revealed very careful preparation, said the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. P. S. K. Macassey). He had shown considerable cunning, and evidently used gloves. The police had not received much assistance from him. “It is quite hopeless to expect probation in this case,” said His Honour. “He will be sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years.”