TWELVE STROKES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 203, 28 August 1934, Page 9

TWELVE STROKES.

FLOGGING ORDERED.

VIOLENT ATTACK AT TIRAU.

FLORANCE GETS FOUR YEARS

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day. " "This is one of the worst • cases of burglary I have had to consider.for some time," stated Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court this morning in sentencing John Leslie Florance (23) to four years' imprisonment with hard labour and a flogging. Florance was found guilty on Thursday of rendering Francis Rose incapable, by violent means with intent to tAte his flight on commission of a crime, of causing actual bodily harm to Rose, and of breaking and entering the store of Herbert Settle at Hinuera and stealing a quantity of goods. His Honor said the outstanding feature of the crime was the violent attack which Florance and hu companion made iipon a peaceful citizen who wiehed to make sure that his property was safe. Florance stole a butcher's chopper and steel, and with the latter implement attacked Rose. Fortunately, he did not kill him, but it would seem that had the blows he inflicted struck him on the temple instead of on another part of the skull the injuries could possibly have been fatal. "I am quite satisfied that in these exploite in which you and Morton took part you were the leading spirit," said his Honor, "and at a very early age you have graduated as a dangerous criminal. You have had a chance before and have not availed yourself of it, and there is only one way to deal with robbery or attempted robbery when accompanied by brutality. You must be flogged. The number of strokes to be inflicted will be twelve. On the other counts you will be sentenced to one month's hard labour, the sentence to be concurrent."