THE WIDOW'S WATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 267, 8 November 1923, Page 7

THE WIDOW'S WATCH.

RITCHIE RECEIVES SENTENCE. TWO MONTHS' HARD LABOUR. ' "I paid careful attention to the cvi- ( dence in this case, and I am by no < means satisfied that you did not treat j the old lady very shabbily indeed. Her j kindnuss to you in the circumstances was j remarkable," said Mr. Justice Herdman, 1 at the Supreme Court this morning, in i passing sentence of two months' impri- , sonment with hard labour on Robert Gilmour Ritchie (35), who was found ' guilty yesterday on a charge of having ! stolen a watch and chain, the property of Mrs. Pritchard, a widow, aged 73. Ritchie, who had lived with her, borrowed the watcli and then pawned it, giving a false name and address. Before sentence was passed Mr. Northcroft asked hie Honor to bear in mind the jury's recommendation to leniency. Ritchie had lately been in steady employment, and had made every effort to make a complete reformation. The judge said he v.'ould have liked to let the prisoner go free, but could not do bo in view of his previous convictions for vagrancy and theft. His treatment of the old lady, who had been so kind to him, was shameful and shabby, and 'i Ritchie deserved to be well punished. However, the jury's reconimenJp.tion to leniency would be considered, and the sentence Mould not be so severe as it otherwise would have been.