PUZZLING CASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 20 May 1927, Page 6

PUZZLING CASE.

WOMAN’S LAPSE TO CRIME. A DOUBLE PERSONALITY. (by telegraph—press association.) WELLINGTON, May 19. The case of Mrs. Jane Ann Johnston was disposed of in the Supreme Court to-day, when she was sentenced by Mr. Justice Alpers to two years ’ imprisonment. The court was crowded. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the prisoner and Mr. Macassey for the Crown. The charges to which Mrs. Johnston pleaded guilty and on which she was sentenced were as follows: Beaking and entering P. W. Manton’s house at Northland and stealing jewellery fro the value of £950.; two charges of breaking and entering E. J. Hyaras ’ house at Kelburn and stealing articles of a total value of £113; breaking and entering Te Aro House with intent to steal, theft of a caliphont from a house being built in Kelburn. When Mrs. Johnston, who was plainly showing signs of stress, was placed in the dock, Mr. Jackson said he desired to call evidence. The first witness was Dr. S. 11. Arthur, who said that he had attended Mrs. Johnston in 1917 and in 1918 when she was in a private hospital suffering from a nervous breakdown. He had attended her since them, but for nothing serious. Prom his knowledge of her he had formed the opinion that her temperament was always erratic. Evidence was also given by Dr. Daisy Platts Mills, who said she had come into contact with the prisoner through the English Speaking Union and other societies. Mrs. Johnston had been very helpful on the committees to which she had belonged. She had been an excellent hostess at various public functions. Witnss said she had known Mrs. Johnston to have been a very devoted mother. In the event of a breakdown it would be hard to tell in what direction her mind might lead her.

His Honour said he 'would accept all that Dr. Platts Mills had said, and that the woman had borne a good character before she embarked on a career of crime. That in itself indicated a very great change. C. E. McKenzie was giving evidence as fro the accused’s general reputation when Mr. Jackson asked if witness knew she had trouble with her husband. LIVED APART PROM HUSBAND. Mr. Macassey objected to the question and His Honour said he found that Mrs. Johnston had been living apart from her husband, who paid her £3 a week and was paying for the education of their child and also assisting in the education of a daughter of the first marriage. Financially her husband could not be said to have beer, responsible for her career of crime. Mr. Jackson said that they were endeavouring to find a solution to the problem. His Honour: “The psychology of crime is an interesting subject, but this court is not concerned with the psychology of crime, but with the prevention of it. ’ ’ The witness McKenzie, continuing, said Mrs. Johnston had taken to religion and had been in correspondence with clergymen all over the world and had people praying for her. On one occasion Mrs. Johnston had told witness she had received wonderful help and was going to tour the country and lecture on psychology and prayer on account of the wonderful help she had received. Addressing His Honour, Mr. Jackson said there had been no one more ready and willing to help at all times than the accused. She had been associated with such societies as the English Speaking. Union and the Community Club, and had always done her best freely and willingly. His Honour: “You will no doubt note from the police report that she was at one time engaged as a professional fortune-teller. ” Mr. Jackson: “Apparently that was many years ago.’’ Mr. Jackson referred to the past good life of the prisoner, and said that in a sense in one bound she lapsed from her social position into the prisoner’s dock. One could only suggest that at the time of the commission of the offences the prisoner was not normal and had lost control of herself to a certain extent. REACHED BREAKING POINT. Counsel proceeded ’to trace the. life history of the prisoner and His Honour remarked that he was glad to assume that the prisoner thoroughly deserved the reputation she had enjoyed. His Honour: “Is is it very oldfashioned to suggest that it is original sin? Each of us has a breaking point and one cannot quite calculate where it is. This unfortunate woman had her breaking point and she reached it.’’

Counsel referred to the proceedings for separation taken, by the prisoner’s husband and said these had "worried her and she had gone through a tremendous mental struggle.

His Honour: “If you are going to ask me to believe that we can find a little relief in burglary, Mr. Jackson, you are talking something perilously like nonsense.’’

Addressing the accused, His Honour said: “Prisoner at the bar: Long before taking my seat on the bench this morning I gave grave thought and consideration as to what was my duty to the public and to you. The reason is because your crime in a sense is very sad.” The prisoner’s counsel had referred to the religious element in her life; it was his hope she would return to that mental attitude and that she would find in the ordeal which she was about to undergo a help and consolation from religion. t His Honour said he would be doing wrong to the community if he should accede to the suggestion that probation be granted, because the crimes were numerous and indicated a fixed criminal tendency. The crimes showed intellect ability and daring, and they stamped the prisoner on one side of her character as a dangerous criminal. There was another side, however, which made one of those puzzling case 3 of human psychology —one of a double personality. “I take into consideration the state of your health,” added His Honour, “and do not sentence you to a term of hard labour wi'th imprisonment, although you will be abfle to find in prison avocations that will help you, apart from hard labour. The sentence of the court is imprisonment for two years on each charge, the terms to be concurrent. ’ ’