PRISONERS PUNISHED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 12

PRISONERS PUNISHED

SUPREME COURT SENTENCES “SEVEN CASES INVOLVING DISHONESTY” Prisoners were sentenced in the Supreme Court yesterday bv Mr. Justice MacGregor. Andrew Alexander Clark, a labourer, 24 years of age, was sentenced tn twelve months’ imprisonment on each of three charges of false pretences at Ilawera, and a charge of forgery at Christchurch. The prisoner was at present undergoing a term of imprisonment for offences of a somewhat similar nature, said His Honour It was quite obvious that lie had been carrying on dishonest practices for some time. The sentences were to be concurrent. A dentist’s assistant of 34, who had admitted altering the date of a certificate given bv his employer, at Christchurch. was discharged, and his name ordered not to be published The offence was on o'd one, committed five years ago. said the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. P. S? K. Maenssey). It was a case for lenient treatment. William Roxburgh, a bookkeeper, of 48, who had admitted committing theft as a servant nt Wellington, and said that lie would malto restitution, was sentenced to twelve months' reformative detention. The man had taken about .£B4, over a period o" some weeks, said His Honour. This offence was becoming altogether too frequent. There were eight cases before him. and seven of them were for offences involving some fovn of dishonesty This was a shocking state of affairs, and showed that dishonesty, was rife in the country. Edward Hadway Johnson, a labourer, of 20, convicted of four charges of forgery and uttering at Blenheim, was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention. Valueless cheques were issued bv the prisoner while he was in employment, said the Crown Prosecutor, and he had had no need of money. "Preferred Crime.” George James Cullen, a labourer, 29 years of age. who admitted charges of forgery and uttering at Wellington, was said by the Crown Prosecutor to prefer a life of crime fo anv attempt to earn an honest living. "I warn you that you are going the way to bo declared an habitual criminal.” said His Honour, when sentencing Cul!"ii to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Convicted of breaking, entering, and theft at Featherston. James Maxwell, a labourer, of 55. was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. Walter Hedle.v Hnthnance. a clerk. 19 years old. anpenred on two charges of committing theft as a servant at Wellington. It was a case for probation, said the Crown Prosecutor, but His Honour considered thnt the nrisoner should be.sent to n Borstal institution for a period not exceeding two years. "Tt seems to mo that if T gave probation, it would be mak’ng one low for the rich and another for the poor." snid His Honour.