SENTENCES PASSED

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 114, 10 November 1917, Page 8

SENTENCES PASSED

IN THE SUPREME COURT

A number of prisoners came before his Hol!2uj:^%B Chief Justice (Sir EobertStout) ■ for -sentence this morning in the .Supreme Court. A HABITUAL CRIMINAL. The first of these was Robert Irwin Meaclem, who .had pleaded guilty to three charges of uttering. When brought up this morning he said he had no knowledge that the cheques he had uttered we're valueless, but the Chief Justice told him' that such a plea, came too late. His Honour referred to a long list of convictions, including theft, false pre.te n_?s s > _?"d administering a . drug— against the prisoner, who, he said, was undergoing a sentence which had two years to run. Asentenee of one year's im- j prisonmeut, concurrent with this, was imposed, and Meaclem was also declared a habitual criminal. , -.*■ TWO . YEARS' PBOBATION. - Ja-mes O'Cbnnell, guilty of theft from the person, was represented by Mr. H. H. Cornish, who said the prisoner's offence, was his first, arid that it was due to liquor. ■ . •"■ His Honour acceded to counsel's request, and admitted O'Connell to two years' probation,. on condition that for two years he lives in a no-license district, takes no liquor, and uses no tobacco. . :. .. ..INDECENCY PUNISHED. Nicholas Currari appeared for sentence for having.committed .an indecent act. Mr. H. F._ o'Lea.ry referred to prisoner's good service in the mercantile marine, arid his Honour'said he would deal leniently with Curran by .imposing a sentence of-nine months' imprisonment. THE FORGED WILL. When George Harris, guilty of forging' and"" uttering a' will, was brought forward, his counsel, Mr. M. Myers, called, evidence -as to • the previous industry and'"integrity of the prisoner; also to the fact of. his having a family of nine—five of whom are still entirely dependent upon him. _,His Honour said the offence was one of the ■ most serious cases of forgery : forging the name of a dead man to a will. Then it had not been done on impulse, in a hurry -j it was very carefully concocted. Cleverness, ability, and determination had been shown by the prisoner in forging the will and the letter. So much, care had been taken that he (his' Honour), until he: had looked very 'closely; into the case, did not think there was sufficient evidence against the prisoner. He would not sentence prisoner--, to- — hard- labour, but he did not think he would be doing hie duty, if he imposed a less sentence than three years' reformative detention. FIFTEEN MONTHS' GAOL. "Not a very bad case," was the way in which his Honour described the ofJence of Thomas Acquinace Murphy— thai/.,.,;, of carnally knowing a Maori 'girl-under ;the age of .16. His Honour added-that^the one bad feature bt. the casein-was that "the prisoner, had committed the offence after having been warned by a constable. He would be sent, to gaoliifor.. fifteen months, with hard labour. THE CASE OF GOUGH. In the'ease of Herbert William Gough, found guilty of common assault on a ■young.--girl, :his Honour said he would not send the prisoner to gaol, on account of his health. Prisoner would be let go provided that he remained in the country for two years, during which time he must not visit any town, smoke cigarettes, or take intoxicating liquor. :;;":' LODGE FUNDS MISSING. ••■Mri.T. W. Hislop asked for leniency on behalf of Frederick Rodger, who had pleaded guilty to: a,charge of theft. ."".His Honour pointed out that the pri'.sonerS'vby means of. his position in the ;Pruids ;; . Society,) had ..embezzled the savings ft>f]tKrifty/ working men. A sentence ;'of twqtyßps'. 1 Reformative detention was imposed.l^'' ' ■,> ':■:••.. : ... .; :; ; TO WERAROA. ? la^rajnied Richard Thomas Davis— quite; a.slittle- fellow—who had pleaded guilty to a.charge of breaking and entering'and theft, was allowed 'his liberty 'ebnditional:bn his returning to the shelter of the Weraroa State Farm: