HEALTH AT STAKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 99, 18 July 1927, Page 14

HEALTH AT STAKE

COUNSEL’S PLEA “GAOL WOULD MEAN DEATH” That the prisoner was suffering from a form of tuberculosis from which he would probably not recover if sent to gaol, was the plea put forward by Mr. Dickson to His Honour Mr. Justice Herdman on behalf of Frank Lockhart Crawford. Prisoner, who was a young man under the age of 21 years, appeared for sentence on an original charge of theft, having broken the terms of probation to which he was admitted. Mr. Dickson stated that prisoner had committed theft from the Government at Rotorua and was admitted to probation for a term of three years. While serving that term, said Mr. Dickson, prisoner got intoxicated and was brought before the Magistrate’s Court and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for the breach of the terms of his probation. A CHANCE OF RECOVERY Counsel contended that although prisoner was now brought up for sentence on the original charge, he had already been punished to the maximum extent for the breach of his probation. He was suffering from an incurable tubercular disease, added counsel, and it was doubtful from medical advice whether he would survive a term of imprisonment. With proper medical treatment there was a chance of the young man getting better, pleaded counsel. Mr. Campbell, probation officer, said that a few weeks after being placed on probation the prisoner was brought before the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of drunkenness. In connection with the same offence he had also run after a woman in the street and caught hold of her. On that charge, however, the police had not proceeded against him. The sum involved in the original charge of theft was £62 14s lid. His Honour said that he would go into the case with the probation officer and deal with it the following day.