FORGERY AND UTTERING

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 444, 27 May 1937, Page 4

FORGERY AND UTTERING

PRISONER SENTENCED Offences At Stratford Charles Mozart Spinley, who had pleaded guilty in the Stratford Magistrate’s Court to forging a cheque and uttering same to John Ivan Hooker, was sentenced l by Mr Justice Ostler at New Plymouth yesterday to reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years. Pleading leniency for Spinley, Mr H. R. Billing said he appeared to be a good worker when he wat? out of jail and he had not had occasion to accept relief work or sustenance. Spinley maintained! that his trouble was largely due to drink and as long as? he was away from that he worked and lived honestly. Periodically, however, he spent money on drink and that brought him into trouble. Oh the last occasion he was dis u satisfied with the food' at the place he was staying a t Stratford and he took to drink. “He has certainly had enough jail and he hopes to pull himself together after this lapse,” concluded counsel. “I see that from 1925 you have had no fewer than 23 convictions, mostly for false pretences,” said His Honour. “That being so I cannot pass over the calendar andl the only thing to do is to give you. a period of reformative detention. If you work properly and behave yourself in prison, that term can be very much shortened.”