COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1937, Page 7

COURT NEWS

HORSE TRAINER GAOLED. GIRL ABDUCTED. LPer Press Association], HAMILTON, August 24. Cecil John Shaw (45), described as a horse trainer of Cambridge, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Mr. Hewitt, S.M., to-day, on a charge of abducting a girl aged under 18, on June 24 last. Accused was arrested in Christchurch on August 18. Senior-Sergeant Lambert stated accused was single. He met the girl in the case in Cambridge, when she brought a horse to his stables. After the pair left Cambridge, they went to Te Kuiti, Wellington, Oamaru, Gore, Invercargill, and back to Christchurch, during which time they lived as man and wife. Counsel for accused stated that there never was any suggestion of forceful abduction. The girl was unhappy at home, and her parents would not allow the marriage. INTOXICATED DRIVER. NAPIER, August 23. Robert Sinclair Trotter, a farmer, of Ruapare, was sent to gaol tor 14 days on a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car. An accident in which the accused was" involved was seen by an inspector who was following him.

MAN WITH A RECORD. WELLINGTON, August. 24. Stated by the Magistrate to have been convicted 34 times, mostly for theft, Thomas John Henry Foote, 29, single, was sentenced to a year’s reformative detention on one of six charges, heard to-day. Counsel for Foote (Mr. Tarrant) said that accused left gaol on June 1, and obtained employment, but as soon as his prison record became known, he was discharged. He subsequently fel Ito drinking. “He is one of the type which, when it comes to drink, takes also to petty offences, in order to get more drink. It is a case for a doctor rather than a court ot law.” Mr. Mosley, S.M.: What could a doctor do?” Mr. Tarrant: I don’t know, sir, but I do think the public has not gone far enough in investigating methods to deal with cases of this type. Mr. Mosley: This man has been convicted 34 times, mostly for theft. He has had probation extended, he has been convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon, and he has been Imprisoned. Society must protect itself from depredadations of this kind, whether the offender is weak or nor. The better way might have been to have him placed under supervision for a number of years but unfortunately we cannot do that. The only course we can take in the interests of society is to-put him away fo? a t ; me.