SUPREME COURT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 12

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED

NUMEROUS OFFENCES

BREAKING & ENTERING

"Breaking and entering by night is a very serious offence for which the offenders must be severely dealt with," said the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Meyers) when sentencing George Albert Alfred Leonard Hunt, aged 21, and Bertram Maurice Matson, aged 22 on several charges of breaking and entering and theft, attempted breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, and theft. ; His Honour said that if there had been simply one offence of which,: the prisoners had been found guilty or to which they had pleaded guilty, and there had been any extenuating circumstances, he might have been prepared to give some consideration .to the plea that had been made oil the prisoners* behalf. . ■ "\'ou are guilty of a series of offences, and there are no, extenuating circumstances at all so far as I can see," said his Honour, addressing the prisoners. "You have simply become a pair of systematic criminals." Hunt and Matson were sentenced to two years' hard labour, to bo followed by reformative detention for a period of two years. ' • • . Hunt was represented by Mr. J. S. Hanna, and Matson by Mr. R. Watterson. ' PRISONER'S COMPLAINT. Asked if lie had anything to say prior to sentence being ■ passed upon him on a charge of breaking and en.teringand theft at Nelson, Eonald Edward Morrison, aged 22, complained that lie had been brought before the Court under very unusual circumstances. Ho said that he was?1 not notified until 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon that he had to appear before the Court today, and that he would- not have known, that ho was to appear unless he'had inquired himself. Certain action, he alleged, had been taken by the Prison^ Department to absolutely refuse him permission to have a solicitor; ' Why that action was taken he did not know. "I was given to understand that I had boon conspiring with a solicitor of the ' Supreme Court. ..." His Honour: You need not go into that. Do you wish to be represented by counsel! —I do. . " The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. P. S. K. Macassey) said that the prisoner's solicitor had seen him in 'hospital,' ancl the Prisons Department had telephoned his solicitor yesterday. The prisoner was further remanded until Wednesday so that •he could securo a solicitor. /,.'.. ■ .. A sentence of two years' hard labour was imposed on James Maxwell fqi three, offences of breaking and' entering and theft at New Plymouth. Owing to the fact that particulars of his recent behaviour were unavailable at the moment, John McCarthy was remanded for sentenco until' Wednesday o.n a charge of breaking aird ■entering' and theft. : His Honour said that the informal tion would have a bearing on the sentence to be imposed. LENIENT VIEW TAKEN.. Statiiig that this was a case in which! he felt justified in releasing the prisoners on probation, the Chief Justice sentenced Loonard Morgan, aged 21, arid William Morgan, aged 30, to two years' probation on a charge.of breaking aud entering and theft. • ;- .- •, '; Mr. A. B.i Sievwright, who, appeawTd foiuthei.'prhonerß,;said that; ntliey/Jia-d been running their; f ather's,,business for some time, und the Probation Officer's and police reports showed ; that they were industrious, and had never previously shown any criminal, tendency.' ■ • His Honour (addressing the prisoners) : This is a case .in which I feel justified, with some little hesitation however, in releasing you upon probation. I. say with some littlo hesitation because I confess that I do not like k-anttiig probation nowadays to an offender who is proved to be or has pleaded guilty to the commission-of this particular class of. offence.- However, as I have said inoro thaiijOnee no rigid rule can. be laid down. In view of tho Probation Officer's report and to the fact that the previous character of each of you has been good, and that in all probability the lesson of the prosecution will be a serious lesson to you, and that you are not likely to come before the Court again, I. feel justified in releasing each, of you on probation. . ■ OTHER OASES. Ronald Lois Watson, a farm hand, aged 18, was sentenced to thr,ee years' detention in a Borstal institution on a charge of stealing 4s 3d in money from a dwelling in Wanganui. His Honour1 said that the Probation Officer's report in regard to tho prisoner was extreme-i ly unsatisfactory. On .a charge of indecently assaulting a female child, Jesse Frederick Bntlfer was sentenced to reformative detention! for a period of two years. . His Honoui said it was the duty of tho Courts fo' sec, so far as they could, that children were protected. s. i