BUTLER SENTENCED FOR BURGLARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2214, 22 April 1880, Page 2

BUTLER SENTENCED FOR BURGLARY.

TOWN EDITION.

[By TKf.KOKAm.] Dunedin, April 22. This morning Butler pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary at Stamper’s house but not guilty to stealing books from the Catholic Church, but the jury, without leaiing the box found him guilty. At the suggestion of the Bench, the Crown Prosecutor entered a nolle -prosequi, in respect to the charge of attempting to shoot the constables. The prisoner, in answer to the usual challenge, said nothing. The Judge, in passing sentence, said ; —“ It is evident that during the whole of your life, j t ou have committed crime. From your earliest childhood you have been a persistent enemy of society. "Where the Court has to deal with such habitual criminals as you, it is necessary such punishment should be meted out as will prevent the danger to society which must necessarily ensue if such characters as yourself are at large. The sentence lam about to pass, you will distinctly understand, is not measured in any degree by what took place recently. On that charge 3'ou were acquitted. Such a verdict by no means exonerates you from grave suspicions in respect of that charge. I concur in that verdict, not because I am convinced of 3'our innocence, but because in my opinion, the evidence brought against 3 r ou was not sufficient to justify a verdict of guilty, and I particularly wish you to understand that the suspicion which must weigh on the mind of cvciyhod3 r in respect of that transaction does not atfcct in the least the sentence I am going to pronounce. The sentence I pronounce is based ou 3 - our previous career and circumstances —that immeafter 3 - ou wore let out of gaol 3’on commenced again a career of crime, larceny, and burglary, the latter accom panied in all probabilit}-, though it is not put against. 3’ou, ly arson. The sentence of the Court is, in respect of the bnrglaiy, that yon be kept in penal servitude for years, and for lifreeny. after preyioqs conviction, 10 .vears, the .sentences to run concurrently, This is practical!}’ 13 voars, Mr Haggit. intimated that he would consult with the Attorney-General as to whether the other indictments for murder should be proceeded with.