A CHANCE TO REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1916, Page 7

A CHANCE TO REFORM.

SENTENCE ON HERBERT HODGSON.

At the Supreme Court yesterday, Herbert Hodgson, found guilty of assault and robbery, and forging and uttering, appeared before Mr. Justice Hosking yesterday for sentence. Hodgson was found guilty of the robbery of a gold watch and chain, valued at £5, from the person of Reginald Skerman, at Hawera, on December 16, 1915, and further with assaulting Skerman at the same time. Ho- was also found guilty of forgery and uttering a cheque for £2 at Eltham on December 3, 1015. Prisoner forged a cheque for £2, drawn by "T. Walsh, on the Bank of New Zealand, Eltham, and presented the cheque to Alfred Were, of Eltham, in payment of goods. His Honor said the accused had committed the crime of robbery and violence during the .time he was out on bail on another charge. At the present time the prisoner was undergoing a sentence of three months for theft. He had been convicted of theft and sentenced to three months' gaol in 1900, while last March lie was fined £lO at Hawera for false pretences. Mr. G. D. Gow, the prisoner's counsel, said the accused was given to drink, and all his offences were committed while he was under a drinking bout.

His Honor said that as the accused was only 28 years old there was still a chance for him to get on the right track. On of the four charges he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment concurrent with the sentence lie was now serving, to be followed by reformative treatment for a period not exceeding 2% years.