PRISONER'S PLEA

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 8

PRISONER'S PLEA

WANTS TO ENLIST RECORD TOO BAD FOR LENIENCY [Pek United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 22. It was pleaded on behalf of a prisoner who appeared for sentence before Mr Justice Northcroft that he wished to enlist. The prisoner was Graham Wilfred Morton, who, with Claud William Reid, appeared on two charges of breaking and entering and theft, and one .charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. On behalf of Morton, Mr W. (R. Lascelles submitted that the prisoner would bo better in the trenches than in gaol. In respect to Reid, Mr Lascelles said that he had been rather m the position of. an onlooker, somewnat reluctant to embark on a life of crime although a partner. . ... •‘I am afraid it is quite impossible to treat you with the leniency that counsel asks for,” said the judge, addressing Morton. “Up to 1932, you had committed seven offences on which you had either been admitted to probation or convicted and discharged; and since then you were apparently only out of gaol when you embarked on a series of grave offences, using explosives to blow open safes in country places. I do not know whether it is the policy of the Government to include in the military forces men of your type, hut I cannot think it is. At any rate, it cannot he the policy of this court. In view, however, of counsel’s statement that you want to enlist, I will sentence you to IS months’ reformative detention instead of hard labourso that tho Prisons Board may consider your case under that aspect.” Reid was admitted to probation for two years.