AFTER SIX YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 213, 9 September 1935, Page 9

AFTER SIX YEARS.

ESCAPEE SENTENCED. DEPORTED FROM CANADA. OFFENCES IN NEW ZEALAND. I Sentences totalling two years were imposed by Mr. Justice Fair at the Supreme Court this morning on Herbert Lawrence Handley, aged 41, a man who was deported last year from Canada in connection with offences which occurred in New Zealand nearly six years ago. Handley had pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a motor car and obtaining money by false pretences. When in Auckland and Wellington Handley represented that he was the owner of a business, and persuaded people to invest money in it. He paid a deposit of £30 on a car in Auckland, and sold it in Wellington for £75 cash. Mr. Aekins asked for clemency for the prisoner. fle explained that after his escape from a train while "travelling from Wellington to Auckland with a constable Handley had got away on a steamer and eventually reached Vancouver. His wife and family later joined him there. In Vancouver he had struck further trouble in connection with the sale of liquor and was lined 500 dollars with the alternative of six months' imprisonment. He served the sentence and was then deported. Handley, allowing the travelling time, had been in custody for 11 months. His former employer in Australia was prepared to take him back.

"Calculated and Deliberate." His 'Honor said it was impossible to grant probation in this type of case. The offences wer,e calculated and deliberate. Prisoner had posed as the owner of an established business and induced people to risk their savings. Not satisfied with the two offences in Auckland he disposed of the stolen car in Wellington and obtained further money ■by false pretences. His Honor said he would take into account the fact that prisoner had been 11 months in custody and sentence him to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. Dealing with the escape from custody his Honor said it was a serious matter which very often brought in its train great difficulty to the police in the administration of justice and anxiety in the district where the escapee was at largo. The offence must be met by adequate punishment. His Honor imposed a sentence of 12 months, to be served at the expiration of the first sentence.