PRISONERS SENTENCED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1932, Page 3

PRISONERS SENTENCED.

FORGERY CHARGE SEQUEL. ■WOMAN MORE TO BLAME. REFORMATIVE DETENTION. A number of prisoners came up for sentence at the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Herdman. "This is a particularly difficult case on account of the relationship between the two parties," said counsel, when referring to Christopher Henry Parkinson and Mabel Isobel Parkinson, who had pleaded guilty to forging at Wliakntane. Counsel submitted that the male accused was under the influence of his wife and did not realise fully what he was doing. They were living at the house of the man whose name was forged. The female prisoner was charged with aiding and abetting in the conversion of the crimes, but it was really she who was the leading spirit. Both prisoners were on probation on charges of theft, and the forgeries were committed before they were dealt with on the minor charges. '

His Honor said lie had no doubt from the police report that the female prisoner was chiefly instrumental in the eiime. She came from Australia, and the report of the Australian police was that she was a woman of ill-repute. She would be sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years.

It certainly appeared that the man was the dupe for his wife. He would be sent to hard labour for twelve months.

UNUSUAL BIGAMY CASE

Lenient treatment was extended to Charles William Kitson, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy.

The circumstances, said his • Honor, were quite unusual. After accused had come out to New Zealand, he wrote to his wife repeatedly, but received no reply. Therefore lie had concluded that she was dead. "It is quite an exceptional case, and in my opinion one that does not call for penalty," added his Honor, who ordered accused to come up for sentence if called upon.

The judge directed that accused should pay the costs, but allowed him three months in which to do so.

YOUNG HOUSEBREAKER

1 A youth named Frederick John Mur- ! ray came up for sentence on a charge of | breaking and entering a dwellinghouse ' by night and stealing goods therefrom, 1 and of being in possession of house- • breaking instruments by night without lawful excuse. His Honor said ho had discussed the , case with the probation officer, and had decided to give accused another chance. Murray was admitted to probation for two years. The city missioner, the Bev. Jasper Calder, expressed the opinion that trashv literature was the root of the trouble." "THE ELEMENT OF BRAVADO." "You have a serious list of convictions, and the offences with which you are now charged are grave ones," said his Honor to Thomas Henry Merntyre. a young man, who had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a dwellinghouse by day and committing theft. Counsel for accused said accused had been a member of a gang of nine youths who had engaged in a series of robberies from empty houses. No doubt the element of bravado had had a good deal to do with the matter. 'Unfortunately, he had no home life to act as a restraining influence. Mcliityre was sent to gaol for 12 months with hard labour. CRIMES IN THE COUNTRY. Sentence of twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour was also imposed on Stanley Keeble Clark, Frederick Watson and Victor Burnett, who had been found guilty at Hamilton of breaking and entering the post office and a store at Okoroire and of theft. His Honor said the offences were serious ones. Clark and Burnett had both been previously convicted. BREACH OF PROBATION. Charged with a breach of his probationary license, Thomas Alfred Botterill came up for sentence. Accused had bew granted probation on a charge of theft, but a condition was that he should repay the money he had received. He had been found guilty of fraudulently omitting to do so. _ Botterill was sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years. Sentence of three months' imprisonment was passed on John Rameka, who had been found guilty of receiving stolen property at Horahora. The police report in the case of Robert Pera, found guilty of breaking and entering at Putaruru, was favourable, and he was granted probation for a period of two years. The case of George Alfred Pitt, charged with forging and uttering a cheque, was stood down till to-morrow. William Gordon Park, who had been committed from Whakatane on charges of theft and fraud (four charges), was sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding three years. TWO YEARS FOR INDECENCY. James Junk, had been committed from Taumarunui on a charge of committing an indecent act with intent to insult another person. "It seems that you are a sexual degenerate," said his Honor, in imposing sentence of two years' imprisonment. Accused had several previous convictions for offences of a similar type.