SENTENCES IMPOSED

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1917, Page 8

SENTENCES IMPOSED

SUPREME COURT

A number of prisoners whose cases have come before the Supreme Court during the last week or so were brought forward for sentence this morning, his Honour Mr. Justice Hosking being on the Bench.

THREE YEARS' PROBATION,

The first was Arthur Miles, found guilty of the theft of a roll of notes from a returned Maori soldier in the Caledonian Hotel.

Mr. P. W. Jackson made a strong plea for leniency, stressing the fact of the great temptation to which tho prisoner had been subjected; also the fact of his being a returned soldier who had suffered injury on active service. Miles, he said, was willing to go to the country to work. His Honour said that, although there wag only one conviction (for drunkenness) against the prisoner, the police report was very bad, showing him to bo much addicted to liquor and the company of evil characters. However, in view of what counsel had said, he would grant probation for three years, in order to see if it would strengthen the prisoner's character. The condition of the probation would be that Miles would be required to sign a promise to the Probation Officer to refrain from drinking during the probationary period; also from keeping bad company. He must find work in the country, to be sanctioned by tho Probation Officer, and could only come to town with the sanction of the latter. " I hope," added his Honour, " that, with these conditions, you may be backed up to lead what I will call a better life." SIX MONTHS FOR BIGAMY: Mr. H. H. Cornish asked for probation in the case of Thomas Charles Luxon, guilty of bigamy, and in whose case the jury brought in a strong recommendation that he be not associated with hardened criminals. His Honour said he could not grant the request. The only element he could consider was that the prisoner had not got the same powerful intellect as the majority of men. But, there must be a deterrent to prevent the weaker from committing crime. He had communicated with the inspector of the Prisons Department, and the prisoner would be placed under the best possible conditions. The crime was not one to be considered lightly; the prisoner had married one woman and had ruined another, and women must be protected. He would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. FIVE YEARS" GAOL. In the case of John Robert Nicolle, aged 57, found guilty of indcent assaults on little children, his counsel, Mr. H. F. O'Leary, referred to it as a tragedy to see such a man, of "such an age, before the Court convicted on such charges. His Honour : It is indeed a tragedy, especially at his age, but experience has shown us that at this time of life the propensities which led to the acts committed by the prisoner develop. Here in this case the prisoner evidently practised a course of corruption of these children. The sentence of the Court is that he will be imprisoned for five years, with hard labour, on each charge, the terms to run concurrently. THE RADCLIFFE CASE. Mr. V. R. Meredith mentioned the second indictment—one of altering two vouchers—against Herbert Eaton Radcliffe, ex-Chief Clerk of the Mines Department. He said the Crown did not propose to proceed, and His Honour entered a nolle prosequi. CHARGES AGAINST GOUGH. In the second count against Herbert William Gough, already convicted, but not sentenced, for sending threatening letters demanding money, it was agreed to mention the case again on Monday week.