JUDGE PRAISED

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2668, 26 August 1930, Page 3

JUDGE PRAISED

IN PRISONER S SPEECH CONVINCED OF OWN GUILT (Pei Press Association). Christchurch, Aug. 22. \\ hen a prisoner has been found guilty of an offence by a jury he s asked by the registrar whether he has anything’ to say why sentence should not be passed on him. In the great majority of cases the prisoner has no comment to make. In the Supreme* Court at Christchurch this afternoon, however, a prisoner, Charles Henry Lee Walter, who had been found guilty of fraud, made a speech of some length to Mr Justice Adams, complimenting him upon his reputation for justice and mercy, oilw ever, Waiter was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonmnent.

The . charge against Walter, who conducted his own case, was of having received .£IOO from William George Chapman on terms requiring him to pay it to John McLeod, and fraudulently omitting to do so, thereby committing theft.

“So impressed have I been with your Honour’s summing up that a consider that I am really guilty of the offence,” said Walter. “Had I viewed it in the light in which you pointed it out to the jury, I would have pleaded guilty, instead of not guilty. I will undertake to say that after I have served the sentence that you will serve upon me, T will pay back th money, plus 6V per cent, interest. The way in which I have handled the money and did ont account for it, was unjustifiable, and condemns me in the eyes of the law. 1 do not crave leniency. This is the first time upon which I have come into personal contact with your Honour, but I know your Honour’s reputation throughout the Dominion for justice tempered with mercy. ”