PERJURY CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1933, Page 7

PERJURY CHARGE

OFFENCE BY A YOUNG MAN. DETENTION FOR TWO YEARSHAMILTON, June 10. A plea for leniency was made by Mr Strang in the Hamilton S u P r eme Court to-day on, behalf of Samuel Hoskins, aged 21, hairdresser, who came up for sentence l for committing perjury. The offeiice occurred in the Hamilton Supreme Court last November, when Hoskins wa 6 giving evidence in the case in which Ira George Land was convicted for arson in connection with A. G. Forbes’ billiard saloon fire at, Frankton Junction.

Counsel said the prisoner was a member of am old and respected Otorohanga family. He had been always well behaved until he must have come under sinister influences. He was a very young man and the jury had recommended him to mercy. If probation were granted, he would be brought under the best influences available. Mr Justice Herdman said he always had sympathy with the parents of a young man who got into trouble. Prisoner had been found guilty, and very properly found guilty, of perjury. His Honour said perjury wa,s a very serious offence in New Zealand. It was a crime that ,wa 6 very difficult to prove The maximum penalty was seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour

His Honour said he had considered .prisoner’s youth and the jury’s recommendation, 'but lie proposed to send him to prison, not only as a .punish' ment for his misconduct, but as a deterrent to others. He was sentenced to be detained for .reformative purposes for a period not exceeding two years