SOCIETY MUST BE PROTECTED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 113, 5 February 1908, Page 7

SOCIETY MUST BE PROTECTED.

■; > . / . YOUTH SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS' Imprisonment. (BY TELEGRAPH—Pit feSS ASSOCIATION,) Auckland, February '4. ...At the Supreme Court this Morning, befbro Mf. Justice EdWafdn, V frail-looking .youth named Henry Sei'gi'iiilt, .foiitid guilly of stealing a horse, saddle, Uiltl bridlfi. breeding and entering, tlioft,' and ntteflipted breaking mill entering) .Was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. ' ■: ' Asked why sentence should not be passed, prisoner replied i' "I. am only twenty-oMo years of ago, although, as MIV Tolc (Crown Prosfecutor) toys, I jiavo served a sentence of seven years on thirteen charges of arson.' I am penniless, chafacterlcss, and bankrupt in health. 1 can only throw myself upon tlifc meroy of the Court. I hiiVe certainly nothing to urge in extenuation, but at the same timo tho sentence I liiivo just served in gaol has dbno nothing fof tlio good of society or myself. I fail,to sco how a long sent'ohco on tills occasion will do good cither tb myself or sucioty." 11 is Honour expressed the opinion that the Sehtelicb had dollo a great deal of good to society, Which must be protected. It 'was absolutely necessary to put prisoner out of tho why, wliel'o society Would llot bo trcHibled. Throughout tho proceedings thd prisoner conducted his own ease with great coolness. Ho addressed the jury fluently and at great length. . 1 Cross-oxamincd by the Crown, prisoner evinced much prido in his previous achievements, and oxplained to the Court that ho did not pose as a model of virtue!