SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 56, 30 November 1923, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED Several prisoners came before Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court for sentence yesterday. James Frederick Poster, a single man, 28 years of age. pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a male. Mr. W. E. Leicester, for prisoner, said that he had never been before the Court before and seldom drank. The whole unfortunate occurrence Iliad emanated from a meeting with some of his companions with wlinm he had a drink. Ho certainly was not the type of the usual degenerate. His Honour ordered prisoner to be detained for reformative purposes for a term not exceeding two years. "A FBTGHTFUL SHOCK." A young man, Leslie Charles Thackwell, attributed his appearance on a charge of false pretences nt Hawera to the unexpected fall of an auctioneer’s hammer in "knocking down” a. motorcar to him for JUOfl. a sum which he did not possess. "I received a frightful shock." he said. "I had never been in an auctioneer's rooms Ijefore, and I never dreamed that the car would he sold for less than .£2OO, so I went up to -£lOO. . ... I went back later and told tho auctioneer T did not have any money and he asked me who were my bankers nnd when J said tho Bank of New Zealand he said: ‘Well, here s n cheque, alter it.* • . • and. sir, if J had not done ii T would not be here now. . , His Honour said he would have given weight to prisoner’s statement had it. been his first Innse, but unfortunately the young man had a whole string of previous convictions. . commencing in 1015. end involving misdemeanours at Weilington. Christchurch. Dunedin. Palmerston North. Now Plymouth, nnd Woodville. "So it is not a case of an inim- , c*nt voting mo- 1 l>ein" led astray," said His Honour. "You will be sentenced to two rears’ imprisonment with hard labour.” YOUNG GIRL CHARGED. Tda Minnie To Puni. 17 years of age, ploaded guilty to charges of breaking, •ntering, and theft at I’etone- Hia Hon.- ,

our said the probation officer did not recommend probation, and in this His Honour agreed. Tie imposed a term of reformative treatment not to exceed fout years. Mr. P. S. K- Macassey (Crown Proseeutor) said that at Point Halswell the girls were kept .way from the hardened criminals and were taught daii-ying and sewing, and vfl&re required to attend school three nights a week. His Honour made it a part of the order that she be sent to Point Halswell. “■ REFORMATIVE TREATMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, November 29. Tn the Supreme Court James Neil, for breaking, entering, and theft, was sentenced to three years’ reformative treatment. PROBATION FOR THEFT. By Telegraph—Tress Association. New Plymouth, November 29. In the Supreme Court this morning, Jacob Harrison, for theft at Inglewood, was sentenced to two years’ probation, and ordered to pay -CIO towards the costs.