SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1923, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

[llY TKI.MIItMMI —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] HAMILTON SITTINGS. Hamilton. Sept, r>. At the Supreme Court, Joseph Hi.Yrison Love, lormeijly postmaster at Toknaiiu, was found guilty of forgery and theft. Evidence was given that tfie prisoner forged a withdrawal slip and a withdrawal receipt in the name of a Maori woman. (jueenie Banks and thus securing three hundred pounds. He was sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment, Granville Hunt, a prominent business man of Rotorua, was lound guilts of stealing sixteen pounds from reliei funds. Sentence was deferred. A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL.

THE JUDGE'S STRICTURES. CHRISTCHURCH, £ept. G. At the Suoreme Court. John Griffith was sentenced to six years hard lanimr for attempted rape on a g"' l at liurwood ; three years’ hard on each of three charges of breaking and entering. and two years’ hard on each of three charges of theft, the sentences to he concurrent. Justice Reed m passing sentence, declared Griffiths an habitual criminal. "As an habitual criminal,” the Judge said. "You will he kept in prison at the discretion of Prisons Board. It means life, if tho Hoard as 1 imagine it will, considers that a criminal like you should not lie at liberty. You are one of the most dangerous criminals l have had to deal with.” Mr Donnelly 'Crown Prosecutor) said a cablegram had been received statine that Griffiths was wanted in New South Wales for chloroforming a girl in her sleep. Evidence was given that Griffiths was horn in Christchurch and was sent to Burnham Industrial School in 1901. Subsequently he had a long list of convictions in New Zealand and Australia, including burglary, indecent assault and illegally on iWe premises. The Judge dwelt on the grossness of tho Bnrwood crime, and said he would have ordered a flogging if he had not declared Griffiths an habitual criminal.