HARD LABOUR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 10

HARD LABOUR.

PENALTIES FOR CRIME. SUPREME COURT SENTENCES. Gaol terms, all with hard labour, were passed by His Honour Mr Justice Ostler on “three prisoners who appeared before him in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North to-day for sentence. Appearing for William Adams, a labourer, aged 62, of Palmerston North, who pleaded guilty to a serious charge, Mr J. M. Gordon stated that there was very little he could say in mitigation of the nature of prisoner's offence. However, apart from this, prisoner had led a. decent life. He was a good worker, and was prepared to undergo -any medical treatment considered necessary. Cohnsel suggested that, on account of prisoner’s age, the sentence to be passed might be reduced to some extent. His Honour, addressing prisoner, said the latter knew full well the seriousness of his crime, because he had said that-if it was discovered lie would get six years’ imprisonment. His Honour added that he did not see any mitigating circumstances. Prisoner was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Bertram Emil Sixtus, a farmer, aged 52, of Umutoi, who had pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault, was the next to appear for sentence. Appearing for prisoner, Mr G. Crcssley said that the former came ®f a highly respectable and hard-working family, and was more concerned with the disgrave ho had brought on them than with his own position. It would appear that he was not strong mentally. Physically he was able-bodied and, since two years’ service at the War, had got into the habit of wearing shorts. He w.as known throughout the district for this peculiarity, which counsel suggested was evidence of some mental shortcoming. He had pleaded guilty. His Honour said he had read a statement put in by accused, and it bore out what counsel had said. Counsel said that hard work and life on a farm might give prisoner a chance of recovery after his gaol sentence had been served. His Honour, addressing prisoner, commented that it might well be that he was unable to control himself, that there was some abnormality in his make-up. However,” added His Honour. “you have been a plague-spot in a little community. Whenever a person pleads guilty to, or is found guilty, of a serious charge of such a nature, the onlv thing left to do is to inflict a ‘substantial term of imprisonment.” , Prisoner was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with hard labour. “This is a most distressing case,” said Mr Crossley -in appearing for Frederick Bowles, a caretaker, aged 62, of Palmerston North, who had pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent assault. Prisoner, said counsel, was a widower with a grown family. Although he was qualified as a pensioner, he had preferred to work, and had been a respectable member of the community. Counsel was aware that prisoner had a previous conviction for a similar class of offence, and had been sentenced by His Honour Mr Justice Adams to a period of seven years imprisonment, but subsequently prisoner had filled a place in the community. He was well known as a Rugby and cricket coach, and had represented Wellington and Taranaki provinces as a cricketer. When aged 17 he had enlisted in the Imperial Army and served for fourteen years. He had served in the South African War and, during the Great War, though then aged 40” had Wen a sergeant-major m the Featherston camp. Counsel suggested that there was some physical detect in prisoner’s make-up. His Honour said he was extremely sorry that a man with a record of that like prisoner’s should come to this, but, left at largo prisoner would probably have started what would have become a plague spot. Though prisoner had previously been sentenced to seven yea.rs for a similar offence, lie had not Wen before the Court since 1930, and His Honour said he would not take the previous matter into account in imposing sentence. However, ho must see that a substantial term was imposed in the interests of the community.

Prisoner was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with hard laWur.