THEFT OF SHEEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 8

THEFT OF SHEEP.

SENTENCE OF REFORMATIVE DETENTION. ■all Jini:\jnc; is silly." , "I <loii"i (|iiito see. what your counsel means when he say-. \on me not a thief."' said his Honor Mr. .lusticc JMiiir ;iiis morning when Frank James Smith. who had pleaded guilty to the theft of -ill siiecp, appcari'd for sentence. Mr. <;. I*, l-'inliiy, counsel for th" prisoner, said Smith had hecii through 10 \>jir» kv moro of induftry and honesty. Tho story in the pre-e'nt oa»e was >o totally unlioliovahlc as to show Ihat pri-oncr wa- a novice at the >j:iip.». Conn-el that any of mercy the court could »ivc should he c\lelided in iliis ca~e. Prisoner was no; a thief, ami ther. • wa- iiulluiil; to lie gained liy iuipri- .ininir him. His Honor: |'i isoiii-r, your coun-ol v.'iy eloi|iieiiily put the p<i-itioii mi your In-half. There was a time w hen ' you would have hoeii impri-oni'd for a. <*ood ''■nil on such a cuiiv ict ion. It is true \ mi stole in an ulnateliri.-li -ort of w.:\. All iliieviny is -illy. I'm- the oilein-e ot >!u:ep st-iiliii<! the law pro\ id •- tor iiu-pri-oiiiiicin for life Yon wili !„■ sentenced to a term of ivinrmative detention for u period not exceeding tlire>' vuars.