PUNISHMENT OF CRIME

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 98, 25 April 1917, Page 8

PUNISHMENT OF CRIME

PRISONERS- SENTENCED.

,' Several prisoners came up for sen;tence before his Honour the Chief Jus- < tice (Sir Robert Stout) in the Supreme ' Court to-day. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, lof the Crown Law Office, represented • the' Crown. • . ', A YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL, i Percy Erickaon, a mere youth, had .pleaded guilty to several charges of theft and breaking and entering. He ' was declared an habitual criminal and '. sentenced to terms of imprisonment ; totalling four years and four months. ; " THEFT FROM THE WHARF. . ' ' ." A charge of theft from tho wharf had been admitted by John Joseph Drew, • on whose behalf Mr. H. F. O'Leary' oall- • cd evidence as to former good character. His Honour remarked that three boxes of food were stolen. Mr. O'Leary replied that, only on© was traced to the .prisoner. He had six children, the oldest of; whom was eight* years, and the j youngest 14 day 3, and he asked for pro;bation", as this , was prisoner's, first .offence. His Honour said lie believed ■ that wharf labourers as a body were respectable men, but actions such as this •led people to believe that they were a of scamps. 1 However, he would ''grant for twelve months and order prisoner to pay 5s a month to-, ■wards the cost of the prosecution. ■•; CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. , ! A j'oung woman named 1 Hilda Kober- ; stein, ffor whom Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared, had pleaded guilty to a charge ;of concealment of birth. She is already j undergoing a sentence of twelve months ■ for attempted suicide, and had absconded from the Salvation Army Home. ' She was ordered to come tip for senitence when called upon, and will there- ! fore go back to the Home. ;! : ' ••' A BAD START. • - William Albert Dudley, quite'a young 'man, who had admitted a* charge of , breaking.and entering and theft, had nothing'to say. Questioned by his Honour, 't he said he was 20 years of age. He was .sentenced to three months' imprisonment ■ with hard labour.