McCARTHY AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1922, Page 7

McCARTHY AGAIN.

MORE THEFT CHARGES. SENTENCE NOT EXTENDED. Edward McCarthy once more stood in the dock at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer two charges of theft connected with his recent escapade in which he temporarily baffled the police but was eventually arrested and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, to be followed by two years’ probation, on various charges of theft and appropriating a motor-car. Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., was on the bench.

The charges were that McCarthy committed the theft of £2 8s from Allan Sutton at Mangatoki on October 10, and that, at the same place and on the same date, he stole 16s from Donald Smith. Accused, who was! represented by Mr R. H. Quilliam, pleaded guilty to both charges, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Detective-Sergeant Cooney said that during the time McCarthy was eluding the' police he stayed one night with Quilliam. “Both McCarthy and his wife Smith and Sutton in a bach at the rear of the Mangatoki factory. After McCarthy’s departure the money was missed, and complaint made to the police. “I have very little to add to what the detective sergeant has said,” stated Mr,. Quilliam. Both McCarthy and his wife appreciated the former mercy extended by the Magistrate. The acts of theft were those of a desperate hunted man who could not get work.” Counsel did not wish to condone the offences, out ne pointed out that restitution had been made by Mrs McCarthy, who was again the chief sufferer. There must be some hope for McCarthy when his wife was willing to do so much for him. Counsel could assure the Magistrate that McCarthy was really repentent, his behaviour in gaol was reported to be excellent, and lie w'ould serve his sentence as cheerfully as possible and would lead a better life on coming out. Counsel realised that it might be straining justice to the utmost, but he asked that the previous sentence of two months be not extended.

Addressing McCarthy, the Magistrate expressed the hope that, for the sake of his wife, prisoner would not be found in such a position again. He was aware that he had stretched leniency to the utmost in favor of McCarthy, concluding that if a man’s wife evinced such faith in him there must still be some hope for him. Tn this instance then he did not intend to extend McCarthy’s previous sentence of two months, as the latter charges were evidently part ot the same escapade, which was to some extent only, probably due to drink, though he failed to see that the taking of a motor-car was the act of a drunken man. McCarthy, however, would be treated as though charged with the two offences on the original charge. On the first- charge he would be convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and on the second charge convicted and sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, both sentences to run concurrently with the two months he was now serving. Thus his term of imprisonment would not be lengthened. “I hope this leniency will not be misplaced,” said the Magistrate.