"A CHANCE TO REFORM."

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 2

"A CHANCE TO REFORM."

♦ i WALTER AIEDLKY HULSTON'S SENTENCE. TWO YEARS' REFORMATIVE TREATMENT. Two years' reformative treatment in Invercaryill prison wan the sentence imposed on Walter Medley HuJston by his Honour Mr Justice Denniston at the Supreme Court yesterday. Prisoner, a. youth of 17, was convicted at the Court, on Monday last, of - receiving a watch knowiiig it to have been dishonestly obtained. A previous jury had failed to arrive at a verdict in connection with prisoner's case. When prisoner camo up for sentence Mr nis c-ouii.seJ, called evidence as to ms character. Archdeacon Eusor said prisoner had been practically under his care in Sunday School, and other places up till two years ago. since which tinu prisoner had not ,so directly, come under his notice. Prisoner* had no character of hi.s own building, but possessed a nature that took on its colour Irom it<s surroundings in a great measure. Mr Cassidy: Imitative. Witness: Yes.

Continuing, witness stated that so far as ho knew at the tinio ho had mentioned prisoner's behaviour had been uniformly good. If he were removed he would take his character irom his surroundings. His Honour: You look upon him as an impressionable- boyp-. ■..\Vitnet>s: Yes, your Honour. His Honour: If* he were kept away ironi criminal surroundings, but under restraint, that would do him good? Witness: If ho were among criminals hd. would develop into a clever criminal, but in proper -surroundings lie would bo all right. " His Honour: That bears out the opinion' I have formed. Frank Steans said that so far as business was concerned, prisoner in his dealings with him had always been reliable and prompt. His Honour expressed a wish to see thy lather of the. boy, who ho said had left the lad a free hand in the control ol" the shop. . .Mr Cas-sidy .said he would call the iather if his Honour so desired; but! his Honour said he was not particular; Mr Cassidy could call him if ho liked.

Tt was decided not to <-nll the father. His Honour said tht> Probation Officer's report stated that prisoner's shop was frequented by all the thieves in town.

l>etectivf Ward, 'called by Mr Stringer, .said he had had prisoner's shop under his personal observation for some time. The shop was in a low quarter of the town, and mostly frequented by thieves. "Wo have suspe;;ted him for somo' timo past. ,r avorml witness, "oi- receiving atolen property." His Honour, addressing prisoner, said prisoner had been convicted of a very serious offence, that of receiving stolen goods. His Honour stated that he had no doubt as to the propriety of the conviction. The thief who stole the watch was >tho man who had committed a dozen burglaries in this city, all within a few weeks, and who frequented the shop that prisoner was manager of—a shop described as a rosort of thieves. Prisoner had denied receiving the watch, the subject of the charge, and had stated that a respect.fble witness was swearing falsely. Ho had given his ovidence m a cool and self-possessed air. and had perjured himself with unblushing effrontery. If he had been older, he (his Honour) would have sentenced prisoner to a most substantial term of imprisonment. It was a very singular thing, his Honour thought, for a young lad like prisoner to bo placed in cjmrge of a shop like the ono in question was, at the age of fifteen and a half, and it seemed to his Honour that the responsible person for this had a •lot to answer for. His Honour said ho would take advantage of a recent statute and award prisoner a substantial term of reformative treatment. His Honour thought the surroundings of Inyercargill prison a better place for prisoner than a reformatory. The establishment, he understood, was entirely suited to young people. He would also take steps to see that prisoner was not sent "to the institution as a criminal. He was prepared to givo prisoner every chance to break away from his criminal associations. Prisoner would be ordered to bo detained in Invercargill prison for reformative treatment for two years.