CRIME PUNISHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1936, Page 8

CRIME PUNISHED.

ATTACK ON A WOMAN.

A DANGEROUS MAORI.

SIX PRISONERS SENTENCED. , A Maori, Hukuena Hura, who, when disturbed while robbing a bach at Kaitaia, attacked a woman occupant with a pearifle, was this morning sentenced by Mr. Justice Ostler to three years' prisonmentHura had admitted the theft and the assault, and his counsel, Mr. Foy, stated Hura had had an unfortunate upbringing and was still a young man. When disturbed in the theft Hura had picked uj) the pearifle from a mantlepiece and attacked a Mrs. O'Brien. The accused seemed to have been dominated by fear and had not realised what his actions were, said counsel. "Your action seems to me to sliowthat you have criminal instincts that render you dangerous to the public," said his Honor, in addressing the accused. "A term of imprisonment will be ii lposed to keep you safe for some time, and to deter others who have instincts to assault women." A sentence of three years' imprisonment on the assault charge was imposed .and two years on the theft, the sentences to be concurrent. His Honor added if the authorities thought fit they could change the sentence to committal to a Borstal institute. FORGERY BY WOMAN. A charge of forging cheques and uttering them was admitted by Olive Goodwin (Mr. Aekins), aged 37, a domestic. "Your record forbids my doing anything other than sending you to prison," said his Honor in imposing a sentence i of reformative detention not exceeding three years. THEFT AT HUNTLY. Stating that he looked 1 a decent fellow, and that it was his first offence, his Honor admitted Albert George McDonald to probation. Accused, who was 20 years of age, had admitted at Huntly theft of goods of a total value of £7 from the United Stores. Accused, who was represented by Mr. Noble, said that he had a job to go to. His Honor emphasised _ that McDonald would not get another chance, and ordered that the costs of the prosecution, £3 7/6, should be met within three months. Restitution of the stolen goods I had been made. CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. "You broke the law, but it will do you no good, nor will it be in the public interest to send you to gaol," said his Honor to Serena Hoani, who had admitted, at ilawenc, concealment of birth. "The sentence of the Court is that you come up for sentence if called upon. You may go," added his Honor. ACCUSED'S STORY NOT BELIEVED.'

His Honor told John Johnson, who had admitted forging and uttering a cheque at Kaikohe, that he was not prepared to believe accused's fitory that ho had not enough money to keep himself. Though he was stretching the law his Honor would give Johnson a chance. Ho would be admitted to probation for two years, and have to make restitution, and meet the costs of the prosecution, £4 12/. PROTECTION OF GIRLS. "The protection of young girls demands that you be sent to prison," stated the Judge to Lindsay Nelson Coles, who had admitted carnal knowledge. Coles knew perfectly well that the girl was only 13, though she may have been precocious. In the public interest men who committed crimes like his must go to gaol. A sentence of two years' hard labour was imposed.