SUPREME COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1939, Page 10

SUPREME COURT

SENTENCES AT WELLINGTON

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A

WELLINGTON, November 3., Sentences were imposed in the Su-

preme Court to-day as follow: — William Clifford Berice Symonds, spray painter and labourer, 23, and Cyril Gordon McAlinden McKey, motor trimmer, 24, for breaking and entering and theft (one charge), and unlawful conversion of a motor-car, were sentenced to 15 months’ reformative detention in each case, the 'sentences to be concurrent.

Mary Jones, a waitress, 31, for bigamy, ’was* placed on probation for 12 months.

Medical examination of the prisoner to ascertain his mental condition generally was ordered in the . case of Robert Cecil David Mcßitchie, a labourer and railway surfaceman,... 2.2, who appeared for sentence for perjury at Stratford. The Chief Justice (Hon. Sir Michael Myers) said 'that his reason. for the examination was that the Probation Officer, after considerable hesitation, had suggested that the prisoner be granted probation. At first sight he found himself entirely unable to agree. “1 regard this case as a very serious one indeed,” the Chief Justice said.

“It is a charge of polluting the very ■stream of justice. This young man went into Court and gave evidence that he had seduced a. girl who was bringing proceedings against somebody else, under the Destitute Persons Act in respect of a child. That was absolutely untrue, as he now admits.

“According to his statement to the police, he did it to help the person against whom the girl was taking proceedings, for a money reward. I regard that as-an offence - of the most serious character, and it is not a question of punishing this young man, but a matter of letting other young men know and other persons who may not. be young or men, that perjury of any sort, particularly of this kind, is regarded as a most serious matter.” Mcßitchie was remanded for sentence until November 14.

In the case of Robert William Pengelly, a labourer, 25, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful carnal knowledge, and who, counsel said, had a clean record until the present offence, his Honor said that if the girl concerned had been of loose character he might have considered the case much more favourably, but as it was it was the duty of the Court to protect young girls of the community, especially those who could not be said to be of loose morals.

“Unfortunately there is a number of cases that come before the Court where the girl, young though she may be, is just as blameworthy as the young man, very often more so,” his Honor said. “Against that type of girl, as I have said more than once, the young men of the community must be protected, but that i.s not so in (his case. Here there, is no suggestion o| a girl of loose morals. i do not pioposc to make the sentence hcavj. but it must be severe enough to Jet young men similarly minded know that such behaviour cannot be allowed to pass with impunity.” A sentence of eight months’ imprisonment with hard labour was imposed.