LENIENCY ABUSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 403, 11 July 1928, Page 13

LENIENCY ABUSED

PROBATION YESTERDAY;; GAOL TO-DAY THREE MONTHS FOR HAWKER Before the Police Court yesterday, when he was admitted to probation, Stanley Lawrence Couch was present again this morning to answer four charges. The lenient treatment accorded him yesterday was not repeated. Ho was charged with being drunk while in charge of a motor-lorry; with having stolen three cases of apples, and with breaking both the prohibition order and the probation order made against him yesterday. Appearing for defendant, Mr. Schramm said that all he could do was to ask for leniency. Prisoner had been before the court yesterday, when, taking into consideration the fact that Couch was not responsible for his actions when drunk, the magistrate had treated him leniently, admitting him to probation, and ordered him to take out a prohibition order against himself. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that Couch had met two friends after leaving the court yesterday, and had had a few drinks. He was arrested while driving his truck in Ponsonby Hoad. It was fortunate that he had then been arrested, as, had he* been allowed to proceed, he would probably have %*jet with an accident. In regard to the charge of theft, the facts were that Couch had bought one case of apples at the auction, and had altered the figure on the docket to four. He was drunk at the time Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., remarked on the leniency with which he had treated the prisoner yesterday. “Yet the very next day,” said the magistvate, “he appears on other charges The only thing to do is to place him where he cannot obtain liquor.’* Couch was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for being drunk in charge of a motor-vehicle, and two months for theft, the sentences to be cumulative.