RIDICULOUS SENTENCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 434, 5 June 1902, Page 2

RIDICULOUS SENTENCES.

HOW A JUDGE VIEW'S OFFENCES

AGAINST WOMEN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, last night. At the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Denniston, Jas. A. Matthcson pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle by the common process of selling it while there was still money duo on it to the vendor. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, the Probation Officer’s report being unfavorable. Charles Macandrews, on a charge of indecent assault and attempt at rape on a married woman at Winton, was convicted on the first count and got a similar sontence.

Mary Veal (26) pleaded guilty to obtaining £lO from the New Zealand Insurance Company by means of false pretences, and not guilty to the charge of arson. The Crown Prosecutor accepted the plea, and entered a nolle prosequi in regard to the charge of arson against the woman, and her brother, Roger Meldruna. The latter was discharged, and the female accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. She had borrowed furniture from a neighbor over a fence, set out the rooms with it, got an insurance inspector to give a policy on it, and banded the furniture back, all in about 60 minutes.

E. Black, of Fortrose, was found guilty f incest with his sister, a girl under 15

years. His Honor said it was a case which he hardly knew what to do with. His fear as to probation was that it had a very bad effect upon the country. In some offences like this the surroundings had as much to do with the crime as anything else. If he consulted his own feeling he would be inclined to admit accused to probation, but he felt that this would not be in thr interests of the public. Accused had given way to passion, and, however much the conduct was caused by outside in flucnces, he was responsible for his actions.

The prisoner, whose age is 21, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The girl had never been in town or seen a railway train.