COURTS AND OFFENCES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 31 August 1929, Page 2

COURTS AND OFFENCES.

FOUND GUILTY OF SHEEP STEALING.

(By Telegraph—Press Association..; HAMILTON, August 29. After a trial lasting three days l Herbert Henry Ellis, aged. 28, a farmer of Te Kuiti, was found guilty of stealing 68 sheep belonging to William Gadisby. A recommendation to mercy' was made on account qf the facrb that the sheejp strayed on to his property and he did not deliberately set out to- steal them. Sentence wa s postponed. AN ABDUCTION CASE. NELSON, August 29. " On a charge _oif abducting a 16-i-year-old girl, Deveiltie Thomas Martin Ellis Corcoran was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. In imposing the sentence Mr. T. E. Mounsell, S.M., said: “There is no doubt that the girl’s conduct calls for strong condemnation. It was just about as disgraceful as inexplicable. It is to be hoped her experience will prove a lesson to her, but if it does not she is moving towards the ruination of her life. On the other hand that, is no mitigation of accused’s offence. The law has. in mind the protection of young giri s fmm their own foolishness and ignorance.”

The magistrate was- satisfied that when Concoran took the girl for what he called a “joy ride” he hadi improper intentions towards her. It was true he did not gain his object and had he done so, the magistrate said he would have dealt with him much more severely. At the same time he must impose a sentence as a deterrant to that debased class of man who did not consider it a crime to act in such a, manner towards young girls. Security for appeal was fixed at £lO.