BAR OF JUSTICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 8

BAR OF JUSTICE.

SENTENCES PASSED.

TWO CHARGES OF FORGERY. YOUNG MAN INVOLVED. The explanation that Mervyn James Mclntosh, aged 21, had got into bad company at the age of 17 and committed offences after drinking bouts was made by Mr. Richmond when Mclntosh, who had been committed from Whangarei, came before Mr. Justice Fair for sentence, this morning on five charges of forgery. Counsel said that between his lapses prisoner' had worked well. His Honor: He was convicted in May this year of being found in charge of explosives without lawful excuse and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. That seems to indicate that he did not give a reasonable explanation. His Honor added that considering McIntosh's record probation could not be granted. In June, 1933, he had been sentenced to three months for false pretences. What counsel had said about him being a good worker and getting into bad , company would be accepted. Though the sunns involved were not large, forgery was always a serious offence. This young innn did not seem able to resist crime, and in his own interests he would be sentenced to a term of detention at Waikarei for two years.

Burglary at Waipu. Allan Charles Barker and John Hamilton Watt, two young men, had nothing to eay concerning the breaking and entering by night of a warehouse on the Waipu wharf, except that they wanted benzine for their car. His Honor mentioned that they had both already been sentenced to 12 months' hard labour for other thefts. With another man they had been making a tour of North Auckland, and had apparently set out deliberately to steal. The offences were serious, and both would be sentenced to 12 months' hard labour, to be concurrent with the sentences they were now serving.. Motor Accident Sequel. "Some months ago this man was involved with two others in an accident to a motor car which they had borrowed," said Mr. Butler, on behalf of Robert Edgar Body, aged 21, who had admitted forging a cheque for £8 at Taumarunui. Counsel adered that Body had found a cheque book in the pocket of a man on whom he called to get employment. He had extracted three forms, but used only one. The money he had obtained he used to pay his share of the accident. He had never been in trouble before. The man whose name he had forged was a friend of Body's father, and it had been left to the latter to decide whether a disclosure should be made. The father decided that the only course was to make a full disclosure. Hie Honor eaid that this was a case in which prisoner might be admitted to probation. His offence, however, showed,an attitude of mind too common among young men. When in difficulties tficy broke the law and stole other people's money, instead of facing the trouble and working out their own salvation. Body's previous good conduct stood him in good stead, and he would be admitted to two years' probation.