SUPREME COURT

Evening Star, Issue 17482, 13 October 1920, Page 4

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL.

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Sim.) Three prisoners, who pleaded guilty te offences heard in the lower Court, came up for sentence.

James Louis Peterson (breaking and entering and theft of rabbitslrins, and a further charge of theft of a like nature) was represented by Mr J. B. Callan, who said ■that prisoner had made a statement to the police. In it he said that he was 29 years of age, and married, with two children; that he had not done much work during the past two»months; that he suffered from a weak heart: and that'he could only take on certain work. That statement had since been verified. The position was that the man met with an accident while in employment, and when examined for insurance it was discovered that he had heart trouble, and the insurance company declined to carry the ri9k, with the consequence that the man lost his position. *He could not then get work, and was reduced to very serious financial straits. He got desperate, and fooliSily committed the two offences. There had been no loss. Prisoner voluntarily surrendered himself, and made a complete and candid statement of tht whole circumstances.

The Crown Prosecutor (Mr'A. S. Adams) said that he had verified the statement as to the reason why the ma.n loat his employment. The Probation Officer (Rev. F. G.. dimming) said that under supervision he thought it possible for the young man to do, all right. He would get him suitable employment. But for a conviction when he was 17 years of age ho would have recommended probation. His Honor: If he will undertake to report in the same way as if he was released on probation, and'observes the conditions, I will make an order for him to coma up for sentence when, called upon. The prisoner signed the undertaking, and His Honur then ordered him to come up for sentence any time within the next three years. If he did not observe his' undertaking His Honor said he would be brought up and sent to gaol for a. term, lie would also be ord3ved to pay the costs of the prosecution (£5 12s). Thomas Edward Hardwick and William Frank Hardwick (theft of a motor car at Invercargill) had nothing to say. The Crown Prosecutor said that the younger prisoner was under 19 years of age. The prisoners were both committed to the Weraroa training farm in 1913 for the same oifence. His Hone' - : I notice that they were there until 1919. yet the elder one committed ofrVuces in Blenheim in 1917. I don't understand that. ' The Crown Prosecutor stated that the young man escaped from the farm. Hit; Honor: He then got two years' re-» formative detention. The Crown Prosecutor: And was sent to the Stoke., training farm. His Honor ordered the prisoners to be detained for reformative purposes for ? term not exceeding five years. IN DIVORCE. Janet Worthley v. William James Summerfield Worthley. Motion for decree absolute and custody of child. Mr J. B. Oallan moved accordingly.—Order in terms of motion.