PRISONERS SENTENCED.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1917, Page 4

PRISONERS SENTENCED.

BIGAMY AND THEFT CHARGES. YOUNG MEN IN TROUBLE. Wellington, Yesterday. Two prisoners came up for sentence before Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout, yesterday afternoon. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown. ADaunevirke High School boy, Anders Peter Svensen, who pleaded'guilty in the lower court to two charges of breaking, entering and theft at Danuevirke, was represented by Mr. H F. O'Leary. Counsel said that prior to bis offence the prisoner had borne an great promise a( school. The thefts were committed while accused wa3 without parental control in Damwvirks. During the holidays he had earned some money and purchased clothes, but had not paid two of the debts incurred. He said nothing of the malter to his parr ents, and, being pressed for payment, stole the monev.

His Honor said ho was very sorry to see the young man before the court He was given an excellent character from the headmaster of the school and from other people in the district. It was indeed very sad to see such a young boy spoiling his career. Prisoner was not seventeen years of age yet, and his Honor intended to give, him a chance. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and would have to write a letter monthly to the probation officer, telling him how he was getting on. A YOUNG BIGAMIST.

. A young man named Charles Henry Roxburgh came up for sentence on a charge of bigamy at Masterton. On accused's behalf, Mr. H. F. O'Leary pointed out that although he had been previously in prison, Ros.l- - had Keen endeavoring to live down this record. He was a soldier at Featherston when he met the girl with whom he had gone through a foTm of mafKage. Previous to this his ckjnVj conduct had' been excellent. The girt prevailed upon him by frequent letters to with' the Tesult that he had gone' through the form of rriarrlafs with' her;" Counsel pointed out that al' 1 though bigamy 'was lodked upon a« : a serious offence, there wafc this in accused's' favor! He had not led an, inno-1 cent girl on to marry him, as the ; pair had lived together beforo going through the form of marriage.

His Honor said that he would have looked on the case differently if accused had not been in prison before. He had been sentenced on five oharges of theft, and in addition had attempted to escape from custody. His present offence was not so serious, however, in view of the facts pointed out by counsel. His Honor would not pass a severe sentence on him. He could send him to gaol for seven years, but in view of (lis youth and the fact that he had tried to live down his previous offences he would merely sentence him to two years' reformative detention at Invercargill. "Possibly this may be a lesson to you," said his Honor, "i hope it will, and' that T will never hear of you again." I