PENALTIES FOR CRIME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 2

PENALTIES FOR CRIME

PR ISON EIIS SENTKN CE D

STOLEN GLASS AND JEWELLERY

Three prisoners, who had pleaded guilty to the offences charged against them, came before His Honor Air Justice Chapman for sentence in the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr H. H. Osticr appeared for the Crown.

Albert Henry Palmer, for whom Mr R. H. Webb appeared, was put forward for sentence for having stolon a quantity of jewellery, glassware, ete. Mr Webb pointed out that prisoner had confessed the crime and had shown the police whore the stolen.goods wore hidden. 'The value of the goods seemed to have been grossly ovrstalcd. His Honor; 1 do not think that matters. These things wore put in his way. It was an easy steal and ho took them. What 1 have to consider is what is .best to do with him.

Mr Webb: The man was in destitute circumstances. This was not. lie said, a man who stole habitually. Ho bad u room for which he had paid, but lie did not have, a copper left. His Honor : Ho need not have been in that position. There is a shortage of workmen all round the country. An able bodied man can got work anywhere if bo wants it. Mr Webb: The fact remains that lie had no money, and that, I submit, should be taken into consideration. His Honor: It is not a question of punishment, Mr Webb. It is a question of what is best to do with this young man. He has been convicted before and is a Burnham boy. Mr Webb; That is his misfortune. His Honor: 1 do not say ho is a Burnham boy with any intention of stigmatising Burnham boys. Me know criminal boys find their way there and some of them turn out badly. Counsel: I suppose, your Honor will not accept an assurance from prisoner as to future conduct.

His Honor said he could not do that. Ho would not sentence tlio prisoner then. Ho would consider the matter. Ho- must imprison him, and the question was what was best to bo done with him. Tho matter of the sentence would lx? loft over for a few days. A STOLEN BICYCLE.

George Conn, alias Collins, was put forward for sentence for tho theft of a bicycle at Blenheim. Mr R. H. Webb, on accused’s behalf, said that although accused had pleaded guilty to stealing the bicycle which was the subject of the charge, he said ho took it without any dishonest intention. Ho thought a very light sentence would meet tho case. His Honor: What is known of him? Mr Ostler: Tho police report that ho is twenty-two years of age. Ho came from England, and has not been long in Now Zealand. In Waipawa, in August last, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for theft. There were live charges against him —four of theft and one of false pretences. His Honor said the only thing he could do was to send prisoner for reformative treatment. Perhaps the prison board might see fit to grant him probation, but ho could not hold out any promise. That was the affair of the board. Prisoner wour<l be sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment and detention for reformative treatment. A YOUTHFUL FORGER.

Joseph Murphy alias McMahon, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, had nothing to say why sentence should not be passed upon him. Mr Ostler said prisoner was eighteen years of age. When ten years of ago he was sent to Stoke Industrial School, where he had received a good character. Quite recently ho was licensed out to Air Everet. of Motueka, and while there he had forged his employer’s name to an order on a storekeejier for clothing. His Honor said ho found himself obliged in these cases to give sentences, because there were too many instances of swindling storekeepers. Prisoner would bo sentenced to six months’ reformative treatment.