PRISONERS SENTENCED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1916, Page 8

PRISONERS SENTENCED

VARIOUS CRIMES.

F<^J" prisoners who had pleaded guilty to various crimes came before the Chief Justice (Sir .Robert Stout) at the Supreme Court to-day for sentence.

The first dealt with was Albert Cole, a boy, who, while out on probation for theft, committed a breach of the terms of his order: His Honour said that it was; unnecessary to state what had happened since the prisoner was last before the Court. He had received a report from the gaol surgeon, and he also had the father's assurance that the boy would be well looked after in the future"Under.^those circumstances, Cole would be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. However, for the next twelve months he would have to report himself regularly to the gaol surgeon.

Mate Honuku, a Maori, 21 years of •ige, was next placed in the dock. He had. pleaded guilty to a serious offence against a woman at Otaki. Mr. P. W. Jackson, who appeared on the prisoner's behalf, said it was unfortunate that he was;*not represented by counsel at the original hearing. It was likely that various facts, not now disclosed, would havo been brought out. Honuku bore an excellent character, and although he had, without doubt, acted wrongly and foolishly, Mr. Jackson pleaded for lenient treatment. His Honour said he had seen reports on the case which, he was satisfied, . had peculiarities which differentiated it from the ordinary run of cases of the same kind. Like many & foolish young man, Honuku had saved a little money, which he spent in drink, that being, to bis way of thinking, the ideaj, manner of enjoying himself. Honnku would be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. If he took; ont a prohibition order, behaved himself in the future, and paid the cost of the proceedings (about £4) he would probably hear no more about it.

A' young soldier named Leehmere Mem, a member of the A.S.C., guilty of forging and uttering a cheque, came forward. He was represented by Mr. H. Buddie, who pleaded earnestly for lenient treatment. His client was prepared to rejoin his corps if the authorities woold have him back, which seemed likely. His ■ Honour said that Mem had acted so openly that he must be an absolute fool. He had a good character, and he would be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.

Carl Olssen, who had pleaded guilty to obstructing a. railway line, was remanded to appear at Blenheim on 6th March for sentence. Bail was allowed.