SUPREME COURT SENTENCES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12614, 26 November 1926, Page 6

SUPREME COURT SENTENCES

HARD LABOUR FOR SCORRINGE “TO PURGE SYSTEM OP FILTH.” “It is very dreadful that a nfan who lias had a large family, should, in middle life, bo seized by this horrible sexual perversion and behave himself like a boast.” Thus remarked his Honour Mr Justice Alpers in tho Supreme Court yesterday, when Phillip Scorringo appeared to answer for his crime of having committed incest. The accused was represented by Mr S. Winton, who explained that Scorringe was mJrried early, and had a family of nine children. In view of the prisoner’s hitherto clean record, counsel asked that lie be extended as much leniency as possible. “The police report,” added his Honour, “is that you have been a good worker. If you had lived in a sterner age, the cat-o’-nine-tails would have been administered to you with some yigour. Fortunately you do not live in such times; and I personally think that punishment of that form rather brutalises a man, without giving him any chances to recover himself.” Hardship, he further pointed out, would be entailed to tho accused’s family, yet lie must be kepi from society for some time. The sentence of tlie court would bo £hree years with hard labour. “I hope for your own sake,” lie said, “that labour will be as hard as possible so that you may purge your system of the filth that now runs within it.” house-breaking and theft, was senTimi (Piti, on two charges of fenced to two years’ hard labour, while Horace Clifford Allen, who appeared for sentence lor tlio theft ot £ll2 from Leslie Traill, licensee oT the Carlton Hotel, was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour.