BLACKBALL ASSAULT

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1941, Page 2

BLACKBALL ASSAULT

MAXIMUM SENTENCE IMPOSED. The maximum sentence for common asshult, of two months’ imprison--ment, with hard labour, was imposed on Thomas Matthew Shadbolt, miner, of Blackball, by Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth to-day. Shadbolt was yesterday convicted oh a charge of common assault on a girl aged 19 years, at Blackball on July 8, and was remanded for sentence until this morning. The name of the girl concerned was suppressed. Mr. J. W. Hannan, for accused, saici he understood that accused had been before the Court only once before, when he had been fined £l. Apart from that; his character had been good. According to the evidence, he had a wife and five children ’and he (Mr. Hannan) suggested the Court should Extend what leniency it could. If accused was a prisoner there would be the matter of maintenance for his family and probably probation would meet the case. The girl concerned was now away from accused and would be safe from further mterferericc. The S.M. said he had had the opportunity of seeing the probation report and it agreed with the impression he had formed that it was not a case for probation. He (the S.M.) had intimated yesterday that he accepted the girl’s evidence from the point where it was corroborated and even from that point it indicated a serious state of affairs. To his’mind it was not accounted for by the explanation of accused. He (the S.M.) had considered. the evidence carefully and saw no reason why he should disbelieve the girl’s story, rather there was every reason to believe that she was telling a true story and accused was probably fortunate that he was charged, at this stage, only with common assault. The maximum sentence that he (the S.M.) could give for common assault was two months’ imprisonment and, under the circumstances, 'he thought he would not be justified in giving less. Accused would be sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Pararua prison.