SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 43, 19 February 1909, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

(Before Mr. Justice Edwards.) TWO YEABS. Frederick Martin, a young man for sentence on a charge of breaking, entering, and theft, had nothing to advance in extenuation. In passing sentence, his Honor draw attention to the fact that when the offence was committed the prisoner was already on probation respecting a conviction for theft, and the abuse of the Court's leniency must be impressed "upon offenders by ' serious punishment. Breaking, entering, and theft was an offence growing altogether too common, and it would be bettor for those addicted to the practice to leave the colony, "or, at all events, go anywhere from here," said the Judge. Sentence of two years was passed. BREACH OF PROBATION. John Matthews, a youth who was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on December D last for breaking, entering, and theft, was brought up in respect of a breach of his probation, which was granted on November 14 under the name of John Ward. The Judge remarked that he had taken the breach into consideration when passing sentence, but as it was necessary under the Act that the prisoner should be dealt with separately tor breaking probation, he would sentence him to one year's imprisonment, to be concurrent with the term he was iat present serving. AN OBDURATE COUNTERFEITER. The young man, Charles Fred. Barker, who was remanded for sentence in respect of his conviction for passing counterfeit coins, the judge giving him a. chance to disclose the identity of his confederates who manufactured the coins, was brought up again this morning. Barker was still obdurate, sticking to the assertion that he was innocent, and that the coins had been passed to him. It was quite idle for him to pretend that he was innocent of the charges, said his Honor. He - had' been found guilty. It was clear, however, that an ingenious counterfeiter had fabricated the coins, and not prisoner, whom he did not think , capable of the fabrication. There was a greater criminal behind him. Barker had chosen to defeat the endr* of justice by concealing the name of his confederate, and must therefore receive a salutary sentence. Probationwould have been out of the question, because two separate offences were involved, but some consideration would have been taken had the prisoner revealed the name of the other .man. Sentence of one year was passed.