A LONG SENTENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 105, 6 May 1927, Page 12

A LONG SENTENCE

IN INTERESTS OF SOCIETY

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.") .. AUCKLAND, sth May. A sentence of seven years' imprisonment was imposed by Mr. Justice Stringer in the Supremo Court to-day upon Hannah Matilda Dalton, a married woman aged 54 years; who was found guilty on threo charges of unlawfully using instruments upon women for an illegal purpose. Owing to the fact that accused is paralysed in ouo leg she was allowed to remain seated in the dock.

After a retirement of nearly an hour tho jury returned n. verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of prisoner's ago and her physical disability. In addressing prisoner, his Honour said: "You had a warning some years ago which you do not seem to havo availed yourself of. Although you wero pitied on that occasion thcro is very good reason to suppose you caused the death of the individual."

Mr. Singer (for tho accused) said thero was reason to suppose that death dirt not result from tho operation oven if it were performed by tlio prisoner. His Honour: "In. nny ovent, I nm not going to let that sway me. The fact that you were tried should have been sufficient warning. I cannot disguiso from myself that you wore carrying on a systematic trade, and it is ovident that women of all classes were rosorting to you. Taking into consideration tho recommendation of tho jury I cannot do less in the interests of society, to which I think you nnd women liko you aro a menace, than imposo tho sentenco I now do of seven years 1 imprisonment."