SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 241, 12 July 1928, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED TWO DECLARED HABITUAL CRIMINALS Bight prisoners appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Keed in tiie Supreme Court yesterday. James Albert Michael McMahon, aged 36, who had pimidod guilty io a charge of bigamy at the Wanganui Magistrates Court on June 2(1 was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labour. "We are having uses from ba. to time of people coming out from England and deceiving ■ women here with regard to their marriage state," said His Honour in passing sentence upon McMahon, "and it has got to be stopped. ’ Ou two charges of forgery and uttering William John Thomas Whalley, a cook, aged 30, was placed ou probation for two years. Accused ‘was ordered to take out. a prohibition order against himself, to pay the costs of the prosecution, and to make restitution. A term of two years' imprisonment with bard labour was Imposed on' Walter John Hamilton, aged 47, who pleaded guilty at Nelson last month to breaking, coloring and theft. Accused, who had a long list of prior convictions, was also declared an habitual criminal. Ralph Russell Lunn, aged 21, who appeared for sentence on a charge of tneft at Palmerston North, was told by His Honour that he bad committed a mean and callous act by stealing £65 from his father. Lunn was ordered to be detained in a Borstal Institute for a period of three years.

Horacio .Mortimer, a labourer, aged 33. for breaking and entering and theft st New Plymouth was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each of two charges, the wrms to be concurrent.

Cecil Francis, aged 42, who pleaded guilty at Wanganui last week to a charge of having indecently assaulted a female child, was sentenced to seven years' Imprisonment. Accused, who admitted prior convictions, including two. for iitdeceat assault, was also declared au habitual criminal.

Probation for a term of two years was granted in the case of Arthur Wiillam Haskoll, who appeared for sentence on four charges of forgery and uttering. Accused bad forged a number of orders while employed by the “Wanganui Chronicle" Company canvassing for orders for an All Black souvenir. “I really ought to send you to goal, but I am in hopes, in extending leniency, that you will go straight," said His Honour to the prisoner, who was ordered to pay £l3. the costs of the prosecution, and to pay £lO towards restitution to “The Chronicle,” which had been put to the expense of £3O or £4O in printing the bogus orders. On a charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, an offence to which he had pleaded guilty at Palmerston North last month, Marcus Alfred Stapleton Mouldey, aged 25, wak sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with . hard labour.