PRISONERS FOR SENTENCE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22231, 23 October 1937, Page 6

PRISONERS FOR SENTENCE

1 SUPREME COURT SITTINGS "It is distressing to have to dor j with one of your sex and youi ad vanced age. The jury considered tha when they recommended mercy, an< also the fact that you were clearly th tool of a worse offender, whoever tha may be," said his Honour, Mr Justic Northcroft, in the Supreme Court yes terday, in imposing sentence on Mr j Agnes Burns, who was found guilt; I by a jury on charges of using mean i with intent to procure miscarriage. j On behalf of the'prisoner, Mr D. W j Russell handed in two medical certifi cates to the Judge. Burns, he said, tool no part in the actual operation, and she had been frank with the police. Hei house had merely been used as a nurs ing home. In imposing a sentence of six months imprisonment, wit' hard labour, hi< Honour said the crime must be mei with imprisonment, but in the circumstances he would not sentence Burns as severely as others would be, and would deserve to be. Several other prisoners were also sentenced. George Edgar Pengelly, for whom Mr J. K. Moloney appeared, came up for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering and theft. Prisoner was placed on suspended sentence for a year, on the understanding that he was placed in the care of Adjutant Thorne, of the Salvation Army Men's Home. Ralph Christie, against whom there were previous convictions, was ordered to be detained in a Borstal institution for two years, on three charges of breaking and entering with theft, and one of theft from a shop. Mr J. D. Hutchison made representations on behalf of accused. James Reid was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 18 months on a charge of housebreaking with theft. The prisoner was said to have a record. Mr J. T. Watts appeared on his behalf. "Your offence is a serious one, both for yourself and the possible effect upon boys with whom you come in contact, but I am prepared to regard it as an isolated one," said his Honour in sentencing Arthur Gladstone Polkinghorne, who had been found guilty of indecent assault, to six months' imErisonment with hard labour. Dr. A. -. Haslam pleaded for leniency on behalf of the prisoner.