THIS DAY. SENTENCE.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 159, 5 July 1878, Page 2

THIS DAY. SENTENCE.

William Duffy, aged 13 years, was brought up to receive sentence for stealing a cheque value £20 16's 4d from tho Parliamentary Buildings. Mr. laard, Crown Prosecutor, said he had made inquiries into tke boy's previous character, and he felt bound to say that he appeared to have hitlierto borne a good name for honesty. At three schools he had Attended, and at the Government Printing Office, where he bad been employed, they cave him a good character in this respect. His pareuts did not appear to have much control over him, but that was all that was alleged against him. Inspector Atcbison pointed out that the boy refused to say what he had done with the money. Ho could not hare spent it in tbe short timo which elapsed between the robbery and his arrest. Mr. M. Read, the gaoler, f&H the boy told him that lih brother bad hidden it in Hillstreet, and they could not find it again. Prisoner— Yes ; that is so. Tbe boy's mother then was called forward. In reply to his Honor she said the boy had always been obedient and a good son. He left school about three months ago, and had been employed at the Government printing office is a messenger, at 8s Gd per week. He never went out at night, unless it was to go fo church, but he generally played about the garden in the evening. His Honor— l doa't feel disposed to send him to a reformatory. Mr. Izard — 1 think it would be a pity if ho cannot be sent to a reformatory. It he went to gaol the contamination would make him worse. His Honor— My experience- of reformatories is that bad boys may become better there, but good boys are sure to become worse. Mr. Xzard— Gaol would be a very bad place for him I am afraid. His Honor— l don't think any goo* object would be served by sending aim to prison. [To Mrs. Duffy]— if he were not sent to prisoß what would you do with him 7 Mrs. D,uffy— l would keep bin at school for another year, and would then Hnd him apprentice to some respectable trade. His Honor said be would take the responsibility of deciding that the boy should not ro toprison. Had be been nnruly, or iv the hsbiC of going to theatres or places ef amusemeHt, or* spending his evenings, in even » worse manner, tbe case might have been different, but he appeared to have hitherto been a good boy, and had yielded to a sudden ti mptation. Be wohM therefore bs d&charged from castodv— that was, he would be sentenced to five days' imprisonment, counting from the Ist in? "mnt. There was considerable applause in Court, but the demonstration was, of course, immediately suppressed. THE CASE OF ATT.BXPTBD POISONING. William O'Connor was brought up to receive sentence for attempting to administer poison to. William Light. Prisoner^ & answer, to tbe Ufual qveetxm,

said :— I wialTyo-r '^fonor woul3 grant me a remand for a short time until I «an get some witnesses to tpeak to my character. I want to call M*. Shearman, the Commurfoner of Police, who has known me for 21 year?. His Honor— It would be inconvenient and would interrupt the business of the Court to postpone sentence for a very short time, but if you like I will grant an adjournment until either to-morrow or Monday morningPrisoner— l also wish to call a clerk— l don't know his name— in Mr. Lawson's office at the Railway Department, and Mr. Fox, who can speak to a communication from himself to the Minister for Justice, which he sent from Wai"&lKBS5& well. Will you have a remand until to-morrow or Monday ? Prisoner— Perhaps some of the gentlemen would not be able to be here to-morrow, so I will take it for Monday. I will then state the full particulars of this affair, and will lay before the Court and before your Honor the real facts. It still remains to be seen who is the guilty Prisoner was then formally .'emanded until Monday. FRAUDULENT BANKRUPTCY. Lawrence Salmon surrendered to bis ball on an indictment charging- him with fraudulent bankruptcy. _ Mr. Izard prosecuted ; Mr. Barton appeared for the defence. We published the evidence fully when the case was before Mr. Crawford, R.M.,in March last. The prisoner was in partnership witn two other men as builders and contractors, they got into difficulties and filed a declaration of insolvency. The case for the prosecution was that two sums of £108 and £120 respectively were paid to to the prisoner to liquidate —zrtain debts owing by the firm, and that he colyrted the money to his own uses. The'case was proceeding when we went to press, and appeared likely to occupy the attention of the Court until late to-night.