SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS

Evening Star, Issue 19551, 9 May 1927, Page 9

SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS

SUTHERLAND SENT TO GAOL YOUTH'S UNTRUTHS IH THE SOX James Robert Stanley Sutherland, aged 18, was sentenced by His Honor wr Justice Reed for having carnal knowledge of a girl under the ago of 16 years. Mr C. J. L. White, on behalf of the prisoner, said Sutherland was 18 years of age. He had not been in trouble before, and the police report said ho had hitherto borne a good character and been industrious. Ihe trouble seemed to bo that the youth got out of work and “ loafed ” about. Counsel understood the probation officer had said something could be done with Sutherland if he were taken away from Dunedin That could be done; accused could go to his brother in Auckland. When all was said and. done, it seemed to be a silly case of infatuation. His Honor: “ The case was not very serious until the accused camo into the witness box. 1 look upon what he did as aggravating the ■ offence considerably and pointing that he has a bad make-up.” Mr. White said he had very serious doubts about the bedroom scene. His Honor: “1 have no and the jury had no doubts about it.” Mr White said he thought it likely the accused had intimacy with the girl. It was quite beyond him to accept the Crown evidence. His Honor pointed out that the youth had plenty of chances. Tho mother had tried to separate the two. Then Miss O’Shea had been called in, and accused was told not to interfere further with the girl. Tho youth persisted with tho girl, and they were obliged to inform the police. The prisoner had given the lie direct to the Crown witnesses, and tried to “bluff” the thing through. Mr White: “Undoubjffily his conduct was very foolish.” His Honor: “More than foolish. Mr White: “He is only a boy, and tho mother of tho girl did not come out of the case with very Hying colors.” His Honor: “ I don’t know'. Probably if was as much as she could do to control a girl of this age/’ Mr White said the girl was in the home now, and there was no likelihood of the youth seeing her further. In view of tho prisoner’s youth, learned counsel asked for a chance for him. His Honor: “It is not a case for that. Ho is guilty of carnal knowledge.” . Addressing Sutherland, His Honor said: “Had yon frankly in tho first instance admitted the offence the time when the mother approached you, recognised what you were doing, and abstained from interfering further with the girl or going about with her, then it would have been a comparatively trivial offence. A young man and a young woman might commit tho offence _ without there being anything vicious in the mind of the young man. You refused, however, and insisted upon pushing yourself on her. The welfare officer tried to induce you, but you refused. To make it worse, you swore in the box to a lot of untruths, which the jury found were untruths, and which I agree were untruths, and you abused tho unfortunate mother. It is a case which must be met with punishment.” Sutherland was then sentenced to two years’ detention for reformative purposes, His Honor remarking that he would probably be removed to the Borstal Institution.