WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3830, 13 May 1913, Page 7

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

CHIEF JUSTICE ON BURNHAM BOYS. LPEFSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, May 12. Tho Chief Justice had something to say regarding the system of working the Burnham Industrial'School when sentencing a prisoner at the Supreme Court to-day. Accused was a half-caste Maori named Wm. Dunc an, who had pleaded guilty to charges of theft at Wnitara and forgery, breaking and entering at Eltliam. Prisoner is only 21 years old, but had been in Court before, having been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on a charge ol carnal knowledge in 1908, and later to three months’ for theft.

On the theft charges His Honor sentenced prisoner to two years’ imprisonment. For breaking and'entering, lie imposed a term of 12 months’ hard labor, and for forgery one year. The terms were made concurrent and prisoner was declared an habitual criminal. “It is a sad thing to see such a number of Burnham boys coming before me,” observed His Honor. “1 don’t understand how it is, but I suppose it is because such a number of bad boys go to the school.” Whether some other means of attempting to reform such boys-—some-thing like the George Juniof Republic in America —should be adopted he did not know. Prisoner was only 21, but had embarked on a career ol crime. “Burnham doesn’t so cm to have done you any good,” said His Honor. “If ever you want your liberty you will have to reform. 9 here is no outlook for you except that you behave yourself.” Glyn Ivor Hazel, for breaking, entering and theft from jewellers’ shops at Levin and Mastorton, was sentenced to four years’ reformative treatment. ... Thomas Darrorh, for receiving goods from Hazel, was ordered to come up for sentence when called’ upon. James Miles, an old man, for carnal knowledge of ail imbecile girl, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

AUCKLAND SESSIONS

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TEOEfUtAM.iI AUCKLAND, May 12. At the oponing of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Justice Cooper, in his address to the- grand jury, said that while tlie number of charges they would have to investigate was not above the average—the number in the district, indeed. was slightly below it —the, calendar for the present quarterly sittings consisted of many more serious primes, than it was usually the duty of tho Cxrnnd Jur v to inyestigatc. Practically all tho more serious crimes known to tho law were oil the list. I hero were charges of murder, manslaughter, abortion, indecent assault, incest, theft from tho person, breaking and entering, and 'other charges of-a more

or less, serious degree. He regretted that in this district there should be so much serious crime to bo dealt w ith. At the present sittings altogether tliero were 24 charges on the list. Alfred Kawson was found guilty of tlio theft of a watch and chain from Will iam Mum ford and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. James Edward Man gun, found guilty of stealing a cheque for £ls, the property of George Nieoll, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. . CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. The Supremo Court criminal sessions were opened before Air Justice Dennistoii, who. in his charge to the Gram] Jury,, said the calendar was a somewhat heavy one. There were 18 indictments against 17 persons. Six of these, he regretted to say, were sexual cases. They were not very serious ones of their type, however, there being more loudness than anything else. Frederick William Bradshaw, whoso sentence lor theft was held over from the previous'sessions to allow certain inquiries to be made, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, His Honor stating that but for the prisonous’ age (56) he would have received a mere substantial term. Thomas Mort-on. who pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering, was sentenced to two years’ and warned that if he came before the Court again ho would be treated as an habitual criminal. John Bradley (27 years) was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for theft of money and ordered afterwards to complete a term ol reformative treatment. Alexander Harold (16 years),'lor indecent assault, was sentenced to three years imprisonment.