CRIME PUNISHED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 188, 7 May 1931, Page 6

CRIME PUNISHED

Breaking, Entering & Theft

THREE MEN SENTENCED

Three prisoners were sentenced on charges of breaking, entering and theft by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court yesterday. Sentence of two years' detention in the Borstal Institute was imposed on Joseph George Wyeth, labourer, aged 20 years, who pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking, entering and theft. Counsel for the prisoner said thaf apparently he had been under the influence of an older man when the offence was committed. His Honour remarked that it was not the prisoner’s first offence.

Daniel Minahan was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour, to be followed by 18 months’ reformative detention, on a charge of breaking, entering and theft. In imposing the sentence his Honour remarked that the prisoner was liable to be declared an habitual criminal, and though he did not propose to take that action on this occasion it probably’would be the last chance the prisoner would get. Prisoner’s counsel said that it appeared that he had been much addicted to drinking and was under the influence of drink at the time of the/crime.

“Yoii have n fair number of convictions, the longest, apparently, three years’ reformative detention for breaking and entering,” his Honour said, addressing Charles Maurice Collins, labourer, aged 24 years, who pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking, entering and theft. “In this case you will be sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour, to be followed by one year’s reformative detention.”

Seven Years’ Imprisonment

"This is a dastardly crime. Were it not for the fact that I observe your physical condition is not strong and that I am told your mental powers are not strong I would have certainly have prdera flogging.” said Mr. Justice Reed when sentencing Norman James Spicer. labourer. aged 31 years, who was found guilty on a charge of rape. Answering his Honour the accused admitted that he had been convicted before on indecent assault charges.

Sentence of seven years’ imprisonment .with hard labour was imposed, to be followed by five years’ reformative detention.

Maximum Sentence *

The maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, was imposed on Frank Vincent Fun>, labourer, aged 64 years, who was found guilty on a charge of attempted indecent assault on a male. In addition the prisoner was declared to be an habituni criminal.

The prisoner admitted to his Honour that lie iiad been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in 1012 on four charges of indecent assault. After he had served eight years he had been released and had gone to Australia, where he had been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on a similar charge.