Verging On Habitual Criminals, Judge Says

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1939, Page 5

Verging On Habitual Criminals, Judge Says

f Special to “Northern Advocate"} AUCKLAND, This Day.

Warning him that he was rapidly qualifying’ to be declared an habitual criminal, Mr Justice Fair, in the Supreme Court today, sentenced Leslie Jack Davis on a charge of false pretences.

Mr F. McCarthy, for the prisoner, submitted that the offence was petty and seemed to indicate that D.avis had been drinking. “You are only 20 years old, but you have a bad record dating back la 1932," said His Honour. “I do net intend to declare you an habitual criminal, but will impose an indeterminate sentence. You will be sentenced to o period of reformative detention not exceeding two years.”

“A Bad Nine Years.”

Another prisoner whom His Honour warned that he might be declared 1 an habitual criminal in the event of any further apearance, was David George Fletcher, a sheet metal worker, who had pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and one of receiving stolen goods.

Mr T. Henry for the prisoner, said Fletcher had unfortunately had nrevious prison experience but had gone straight for two years. “Admittedly the offences are more or less petty,” said His Honomv “but you have a bad record over the past nine years. You seem to prefer living by crime. “I will not declare you an habitual criminal on this occasion, but I think you should receive warning. You will be sentenced to reformative detention for .a period not exceeding two years.”.