SOCIETY MUST BE PROTECTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 2

SOCIETY MUST BE PROTECTED.

■ ■ ««»■ ■ . - , AN AUCKLAND CASE. [BT TELEGRAPH. — PHKSS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 4th February. At. the Supreme Court this morning, before Mr. /Justice Edwards, a frail-looking youth named Jas. Henry Sergeant, found s,'uiity of stealing a horns, N eaddle, and bridle, breaking and entering, theft, and attempted breaking and entering, was sentenced to &ix years' imprisornnont. : Asked why sentence should not be passed, prisoner replied: "I am only twenty-one years of ago, although, as Mr. lole (Crown Prosecutor) Eays,' I have rerved a sentence of seven years on thirteen charges of arson.' I am pennUoEs, characterless, and bankrupt in health. I can only throw myself upon tho mercy of tho, court. I Lave certainly nothing to urge in extenuation, but at the fame timo the Eentence I have ju6t iervod in goal has done nothing for Iho good of society or m'/self. I fail to soe. how a long rentenee on this occasion will do good either to myeolf or eociety." His £<onour expressed tLe' opinion that the sentence had doiio a great deal of good to Eooioty, which must bo protected. It wan absolutely necessary to put pnsonor out of the way, whors society would not bo troubled. Throughout the proceedings tho prisoner conducted his own enso with great coolneto. He addressed tho jury fluently and ,at great length Cross-examined by the Crown, prisoner evinced much prido in his previous achievements, and explained to tho court lhafe ho did not nose as a model- of virtue!