CRIME PUNISHED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 7

CRIME PUNISHED

IN SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED

Three prisoners who had pjcaded guilty to offences ~>\ had been remanded to the <■..;■• i 10 Conn were sentenced by Mr. J u> , . u< , Fair to-dav. James Henry Sargent i"4> admitted the theft of money fiom i> shop and pleaded for an opportunity to make restitution. He said he could not explain why hr had committed the offence as he had cone to the shop without any intention of theft. Nobody was there, and after having knocked he went to the cash register, rang it and took the money. He had been drinking before going: to the shop, where he was quite well known, and he could only think that his action was du« to drink. His Honor said that probation was recommended, and the prisoner would be released on probation for three years, with special conditions that he return to and live in the Ohakune district, that he abstain from drink, and that he make restitution of the money stolen within a month and pay £10 costs by instalments. Companions in Crime A severe head accident that seemed 10 have affected the mans character was stressed by Mr. Noble as account ing for offences by Frederick Ford <2Si. who appeared in company with Desmond O'Connell US) for offences of motor car theft and fal.se pretences. O'Connoll. added counsel, had never before l>een in trouble. He and Ford had met at the Sailors' Home and they seemed an adventurous pair. His Honor remarked that Ford came to New Zealand in 393 ft when he deserted his ship. Since then he had been convicted of seven offences and was on probation when the present offence was committed with such cunning as indicated that the head injury had not affected his intelligence. He would be sentenced to 18 months' reformative detention. O'Connell had not been in trouble previously and appeared to have been influenced by his companion. He would be released on probation for three years, on condition thai £10 costs was paid within two months and that restitution of the money obtained be made within six months.