DRUNKENNESS AND CRIME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 269, 6 August 1908, Page 7

DRUNKENNESS AND CRIME.

: -o-— ' STATEMENT BY MR. JUSTICE EDWARDS. , (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, August 5. ' In sentencing somo prisoners at tlie Auckland.Supremo Court this afternoon, Mr. Justice Edwards laid down. the principle .that the fact that a man was drunk was no extenuation for crime. . Daniel O'Keefe, a young man, admitted, having stolon from a dwelling, and Dr. Bamford, who appeared for him, urged that the benefits of the First Offenders'. Probation Act should be extended to his client. Counsel admitted that O'Keefe had been convicted under tho Police Offences Act twice before, once for' drunkenness and once as a rogue and vagabond, at Palmerston North. Tho prisoner, in explanation of his present offence, stated "that no was under tho influence of liquor at the tiriifi. •• His Hononr: A mar honest when sober does not become a thief when drunk. Dr. Bamford, however, submitted that thero was no other explanation of his client's con-duct,-.and pointed out that 'O'Keefe, after committing the offonce, immediately repented. His Honour said lie did not seo his way to admit O'Keefe to probation. Tho benefits bf that Act were for thoso who yielded to sudden temptation, or perhaps undci' tho influence of need, but thero were no such redeeming features in the present instance. The fact that O'Keefe got drunk early in tho morning beforo committing tho ofl'enco was an aggravation, not an extenuation, of his crime, and in tho interests of the public he should bo placed somewhere where ho cculd not get drunk. A sentence of ono year's imprisonment would be imposed. Walter David Scott, brought up for sentence on two charges of false pretences,. also 1 pleaded drunkenness as an excuse, but His Honour again classed this as an aggravation not a palliation of the offence, and the prisoner, having previous convictions for false pretences against him, . was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. The Now Zealand Exprws Company, Ltd., ' eives special attention to consignments of all sorts for up-country clients. • Live stock a speciality. Address, 20 Customhouse Quay, Wellington. 'Phone 1333. CBIS9 KEMOVAL NOTICE. We hereby tieg to notify the publio that we' ' have let tho downstairs portion of our premises situated at 67 -Willis Street, and will in future continue to do business UPSTAIRS as heretofore. Entrance from Mercer Streot below Beadnall's. Telephone 1019. Garage, 24 Harris Street; telephone 2111. INGLIS BBng.-Advt-