CRIMINAL SITTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 21639, 7 February 1934, Page 6

CRIMINAL SITTINGS

WELLINGTON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT INFLICTED [Per United Press Association.] , WELLINGTON, February 7. ’ The following prisoners were sen-* tenoed by the Chief Justice this morn* ing:— John Phillip Crampton Collett, rape in respect to a girl aged four and a-half years, and indecent assault on a girl aged eight, seven years’ hard labour, and fifteen strokes of the “ cat ” on: the first charge, and three years’ hard labour on the second. The sentences to> be concurrent. The Chief Justice said that, abhorrent as the idea of corporal l punishment was to_ him, he had _ been convinced on reading the depositions that Collett wgs deserving of such! punishment. However, His Honour had taken the precaution of procuring a I medical report, and this showed there was no ground why the punishment he thought necessary should not be in-

Ronald Edward Morrison, breaking and entering at Nelson, _ eighteen months’ reformative detention. His Honour remarked that Morrison was fast qualifying as an habitual criminal. and if he came before the court again he would certainly be so declared

John M'Carthy, breaking and-enter-ing and theft at Palmerston North, eighteen months’ hard labour. Benjamin Kirkbride, assault causing actual bodily harm, was admitted to one year’s probation and to pay £22 6s, costs of the prosecution* within six months.