PASSING SENTENCE ON WARING TAYLOR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1219, 10 July 1885, Page 3

PASSING SENTENCE ON WARING TAYLOR.

Wellington, July 7th. Waring Taylor was brought up for sentence at the Supreme Court this morning, the Court being crowded. During his incarceration Taylor has grown much stouter. As he advanced to the prisoner’s stand it was seen that he was trembling in every limb, and wearing a very anxious look. During tho few minutes he was obliged to appear before the public he leant heavily against the front of tho dock, and held one hand up to his face as if to conceal his agitation. Permission was given to Mr Shaw, counsel for the prisoner, to address tho Court, which be did as follows: “On behalf of tho prisoner I venture to remind the Court that there are one or two circumstances which may fairly he considered to be in his favour, at least so far ns mitigation of his sentence is concerned. I am aware that your discretion in apportioning sentence is absolu' ely unfettered, but at the same time I feel sure yon will carefully weigh the surrounding circumstances' both for and against tho prisoner at the bar. Your Honor, prisoner is on old man. lie is, I am informed, in hisGOoh year, and out of that life he has spent some 43 years in this city. 1 am awe that in reminding your Honor that during the greater part of that time he pained tho esteem of his fellow citizens, I lay myself open to the rejoinder that ho could never have been able

to commit the crime but for the trust reEosed in him, at the same time 1 cannot elp thinking that in deciding the amount of sentence your Honor will take into consideration the prisoner’s career, and that during 40 odd years he was absolutely free from taint. Again, your Honor, 1 would submit that what might bo heavy punishment for him may be a very trifling matter for another. Those who are familiar with the criminal class find that for the hardened criminal gaol life is no hardship whatever, but to a man brought up and accustomed to such life as prisoner has been living au element of torture must enter his soul when he discovers himself in prison. That, I submit, is element to be taken into consideration in dealing with the case. In the present instance a heavy sentence would be absolutely crushing to prisoner. In fact I go so far as to say that prisoner has already been punished beyond the reach of further punishment. I believe those who prosecuted in this matter have no desire that, you should exercise any severity in passing sentence. At the same time I cannot help recognising that your Honor is here to vindicate the ends of justice. I feel confident that in apportioning sentence you will entirely lay aside the evidence before you in regard to the conviction quashed, and also upon the other two indictments that might have been preferred. Prisoner has only been convicted on one indictment.”

His Honor : Mr Taylor, before yonr counsel’s address, I had carefully considered what sentence should be imposed upon von. Undoubtedly the first feeling I had when the jury convicted you was that a very severe punishment should be imposed. Further consideration of the matter, however, has induced me to think that the ends of justice may be served without going to the extremity I first felt bound to go in apportioning your sentence. Taking into account your age, and that is really the only circumstance in your favour in mitigation of sentence—there are no other circumstances in my opinion which would justify me in mitigating your sentence—there is no reason why I should take into consideration what you have been—all I can say is that the offence of which you have been guilty is an extremely grave oue Bat more so when committed by one who held such a position of trust as you occupied. The sentence of the Court is that you be sentenced to five years’ penal servitude. Prisoner was then removed.