THREE YEARS' HARD LABOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 December 1930, Page 8

THREE YEARS' HARD LABOUR

CRIME A "MUG'S GAME"

When the prisoners came up for sentence before bis Honour Mr Justice Heed this morning, the Crown Prosecutor (Mr C. R. Fell) stated that it was oidy fair to slate two points in their favour. Apparently the escape was entirely unpremeditated as Morrison left his coat only a lew feet away when ho escaped; while Sealey pointed out where the stolen goods wore. Had this not been done ii would probably have been impossible to find them. His Honour in addressing .the prisoners said it was a pity that (lie two men —who seemed to have had a fairly reasonable education—should be in such a position. They had pleaded guilty to both charges. "Now" proceeded his Honour, "1 do not know whether you know the seriousness of these particular crimes, but I would just remind you that for escaping you are liable for seven years and for breaking and entering 14 years. You have also both of you qualified for being declared habitual criminals. Ido not know whether you know what that means. It means that when you have completed your sentence you are liable to be detained for life in 'prison. I do not propose to declare you habitual criminals; but it will probably be the last lime you will escape it. The reasons that guide me in not declaring you habitual criminals are these :~-So far as you are concerned Sealey, although you have several convictions, they have all been more or less of a minor character—from 14 days to six months—and this appears, as far as your record goes, the first occasion on which you have appeared before the Court—with the exception of the other day—on a major charge. "As far as you are concerned, Morrison, vour career is distinctly disappointing. ' In. May last the Prisons Board was strongly "recommended by the Controller of Prisons that you be released from the Borstal Institute. He gave you an excellent report. For two years you have done marvellously good work, and vou were stated bv the Controller of Prisons to exercise a good influence among the boys; and the Prisons Board considered that you were deserving ot consideration. Unfortunately after your release someone was foolish enough to assist vou to obtain a motor car, and that scorns to'have caused all your troubles. Instead of getting to work and rehabilitating yourself you got into trouble with a girl and apparently ran amok. I do not want to take tho spirit out ot you bv declaring you an habitual criminal, but at the same time both of you must be sentenced to something substantial You are already serving sentences, and I do not propose to add to them but will make them concurrent " Each prisoner was then sentenced to three years' imprisonment with hard labour on each charge, to bo concurrent, and also concurrent with the sentences already being served. , ~ "I do hope that you will added his Honour, "that of all the mug s mmes in the world that of crime is the worst. I hope when you got out you will take n pull on yourselves nrid become decent citizen.-;." The prisoners were then removed. An order was made for the restitution of the stolon properly to the owners.