FIVE YEARS’ HARD LABOUR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 288, 2 November 1934, Page 2

FIVE YEARS’ HARD LABOUR.

SENTENCE ON A WOMAN

Per Press Association,

WELLINGTON, Nov. 2,

A sentence of five years’ hard labour was imposed on Clara Nicholson by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court to-day. Prisoner was found guilty of manslaughter in resjieot of the death of an 18-year-old girl following a certain event procured by prisoner on June 13. Id answer to the Judge, the Crown Prosecutor (Mr Macassey) said that although no actual proceedings had been taken against prisoner previously, tlie police had bad occasion to inquire about certain activities by tho woman six or seven times m the last ten years. They had endeavoured to trace other cases, but no evidence bail been obtained against her because of the difficulty of getting her accomplices to give evidence. Tho Judge said tho Crown had made use of tlie accomplices who, if they chose, however, could refuse to give evidence. Ho did not intend to make any comment as to the action ol the authorities in such cases, and he did not think he should make any comment as to what should or should not he done as to proceedings against, tlie accomplices. He appreciated the'difficulties of the authorities and in view ql that did not wish to add to those difficulties. Certain features of flic evidence, His Honour added, all led to the irresistible conclusion that the present case was not an isolated one, but merely part of the nefarious trade she was carrying on. In regard to prisoner’s ago, the Judge said that, giving all duo weight to that, it was obvious the penalty must bo a severe one. As to the question of senility, he could not take that into consideration. It was a matter which would, no doubt, be taken into proper consideration by tlie authorities if they thought it necessary.