THE TRUE FACTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 276, 11 February 1928, Page 10

THE TRUE FACTS

TWO YEARS FOR THOMAS JUDGE REPLIES TO COUNSEL “The prisoner was married yesterday,” said Mr. Bryce Hart, when pleading for Stanley Uren Thomas in the Supreme Court this morning, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing money collected by him on behalf of a hotel scheme. Counsel continued by saying that the newspapers had been pleased to treat the marriage in a facetious manner. “Well, we had better tell the true facts to the public,” responded Mr. Justice Reed, otherwise it will be thought that the prisoner did a noble thing. He was married and obtained his divorce, but had been living with a woman for some time.” In asking for leniency, Mr. Hart admitted that the prisoner had been before the Court on previous occasions for similar offences,, The prisoner was willing to make restitution, and, suggested counsel, his actions had not been those of a criminal, but had been actuated more by crass stupidity. He had a love of money, and also had a kink. A lot of people come here with a kink,” said his Honour. “In this , case the prisoner came here from Samoa in 1924 to go to gaol for theft. In 1926 he was sentenced to twelve months for theft, and now you will go to gaol for a substantial term. I suggest that you make restitution, and that may have some effect with the Prisons Board. You will be sentenced to reformative detention for two years.”