CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 246, 17 October 1910, Page 2

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

FIVE PRISONERS SENTENCED.

Five prisoners -were brought before Mr. Justice Sim for sentence at the Auckland Supreme Court this morning. The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., appeared as Crown Prosecutor.

FORMER EMPLOYERS ROBBED.

A young fellow of small stature named Leslie Charles John, charged with breaking, entering, und theft a.£ Auckland (three counts}, was the subject of an unfavourable report by the probation officer. The father of the young man pleaded for probation, suggesting that there was a possibility of reform under stricter surveillance, and if placed on a farm for 12 months. "The officer says the prisonei does not Tcmain long in "his situations," pointed out Jiis Honor. The father attributed this to cigarette smoking, and thought a spell on a farm- would prove a cure of the vice. "He has also given way to drink/ added his honor.

"It is a curious thing" that I've noticed nothing of the kind," replied the father. Mr. Justice Sim further remarked that the prisoner had chiefly devoted himself to robbing former employers. He thought a term of imprisonment in a reformatory prison would be in the interests of the young man. -\vho was sentenced to two years fin each charge to the Invercargill Gaol, the sentences to run concurrently. A NATIVE'S LAPSE. An intelligent-looking Maori boy, Paliihi Tunua., who broke into the store of Mr. Morris, at Whangarei, and stole a strm of £16 5/11, asked for the compassion of the Court, and to be released on probation, pointing out that he was the main support of a crippled father. A favourable report was made by the probation officer, and the district constable reported that tlie prisoner was one of the most industrious, honest, and trustworthy natives of the district. Mr. Tole pointed out that £12 17/2 of*the amount stolen had been recovered. His Honor thought the ease one in which the terms of the First Offenders Act could be applied, and admitted prisoner to 18 months' probation, ordering nim to repay £3 8/9 to Mr. Morris, and to pay £6 towards the costs of the prosecution. MAORI MORALITY. Hay. Davis, a Maori, 2S years of age, "was sent to gaol for a term of two years on a charge of carnally knowing a girl "under 1C years of age at Kaitaia. The girl concerned Teas a half-sister of prisoner, and 13 years old. Prisoner has previously served 12 months on a similar charge, and a term for sheep stealing. When sentence was pronounced, the prisoner, through, an interpreter, explained that he was not physically capable of doing hard labour, and asked iha-l, light -work be allotted him. His Honor: That is a matter for the gaol authorities to deal with. OLD TWATrS XSO-WTNrAIiX,. ! James Wells, a white-haired man, 71 years of age, tottered into the box for sentence on a charge of indecent assault at the Thames. Prisoner was stated to be one of the pioneers of the goldfields district, and for many years carried on successfully as a building contractor and bridge builder. He has a grown-up family, all the members of which are in good positions. Some nine years ago his wife died, and since then he has been living the life of a recluse, devoting the energies of his old age to a search, after illusive inventions. He regarded: himself as" a mechanical genius, and surrounded his house, inside and outside, with windmills and other mechanical contrivances. His living was frugal, existing on about 6/ a week, and he was careless in dress, Ms mind being entirely absorbed in perfecting Ms inventions. He refused the repeated offers made Tjy members of the family to give him a home with. them. He was of an independent spirit. William Graham, an old resident of the' Thames, and Alex. Wells gave evidence bearing out the details of this story, the former declaring that prisoner was in his dotage. Several prominent residents of the Thame3 also gave prisoner a good character.

Mr. Prendergast, who represented the "old man; urged that imprisonment, would in all probability hasten his death, and that he was more a fit subject for a mental hospital.

Afr. Justice Sim stated that if prisoner wtre in his dotage he was a source of danger to society, and should be imprisoned, and if hie mental condition were such as to justify his removal to a hospital, that could be done on the certificate of the gaol surgeon. His Honor remarked that his duty to society made it necessary for him to inflict a substantial sentence,- and prisoner was sent to gaol for a term of four years.

ANOTHER CHANCE. Dr. Bamford appeared -for John Halford, guilty of forgery and uttering and false pretences (two charges)., and asked for leniency. He pointed out that the ofienees were committed at the one time in August of last year, and since thai time he had been in steady and honest employment, being well spoken of by his employers. He was 23 years of age, and ten years ago was committed to the Burn' him Industrial School, but since then to the present time nothing was known against him. . TTia Honor said lie was prepared io give prisoner another chance, and fined him £16 instead of imposing a term of imprisonment, prisoner to remain in gao] till the amquntjwas paid. Dr. BamfordrWiiryovTfßra Timifc-of imprisonment, your Honor? His Honor; The Act fixes the period at two years.