SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1920, Page 1

SUPREME COURT.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 30. Prisoners who had pleaded guilty m the lower court came before His Honour Mr J ustice Dusking in the Supreme Court to-day for sentence. John Stephens, a Maori, 17 years of age, for theft at Waverley, was admitted to probation for 12 months. Frederick Hargrave, for forgery and uttering and theft (four charges), of whom the police presented a bad report, was sentenced to three years’ reformative treatment. Mary Sybella Webster, tor theft in 1917 of a ring valued at £l4, ws ordered to come up for sentence in six months if called upon. ,

,\ young no man named Kathleen Eleanore Morton, who pleaded guilty to the theft of £325, the funds of the Y.W.C.A., also came before his Honour. Counsel for the prisoner made a strong plea for leniency. Accused, ho said, was 22 years of age, and since she, was 15, when her remaining parent died she had been thrown upon her own resources. She had become accustomed to a mode of life and dress beyond her means. The theory was that she had .spent a. considerable portion of the money at tlie races at Auckland. His Honour said tlic scheme by which prisoner obtained the money and endeavoured to cover the theft was a clever one. It was an unfortunate case, and the least sentence lie could impose was two years’ reformative treatment nt Addington. Prisoner who showed great distress during the hearing, broke down completely on being sentenced. '