A CASE OF BASE INGRATITUDE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8107, 11 May 1906, Page 4

A CASE OF BASE INGRATITUDE

Arthur James Thomas, alias Year, and William James Home, who liad pleaded guilty at Paliucrston to charges of breaking, entering, and theft, were brought up for sentence at the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday. His Honor said Thomas' case was one of base ingratitude, ami hS aupcared to.be a man with a bad tieart. Thomas had been kindly treated by a small settler at Inglewood (Turauaki), who, besides giving Thomas fond and lodging, had also given iiim money to help him on his way. In return for his kindness, Thomas had, with Home, broken into the settler's house and stolen his little hoard of money. "Why," said Sir Robert, "even a horse or a dog is kind to those wiio belp it. . His Honor said Thomas was liable to a sentence of fourteen years' imprisonment, but he (the Chief Jus. tice) did not believe in passing the full sentence, as he had always the hope—perhaps it was a mistaken one—that criminals might reform. Thomas was sentenced to two years' hard labor in the Wellington Gaol. His Honor took a lenient view of Home's association with Thomas. The latter was well known to the police, but Home was only known as a man who was addicted to drink. Nevertheless, said His Honor, Home knew of the settler's kindness to Thomas. As nothing serious had previously been recorded against Home, he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment in Wellington Gaol.