HAMILTON SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16327, 6 September 1916, Page 5

HAMILTON SUPREME COURT.

SENTENCES IMPOSED.

fnr TEt.WßArn.—o\nf cnniwsroNTF.xT.] HAMILTON. Tuesday. At the opening of the Supreme Courtcriminal sessions to-day, Mr. Justice Cooper commented on the serious nature of the charges. Truo bills were returned in all cases. Henry Figure, a young married native, came up for sentence on a charge of break-. ing hid probation. The probation officer described Figure as a " fool, possessing no intelligence whatsoever." Accused was sentenced to reformative treatment for twelve , months. ' i. Thomas William, a native, pleaded . guilty to stealing £155 from another native; ' at To Kuiti, and was sentenced to two ' : years' reformative treatment. Accused asked to bo allowed to enlist, but His | Honor said that was a matter for the j , Prisons Board. _ | A powerfully-built man. William Richard j McLean, was charged with breaking law- j ful custody. Prisoner was serving a sen- J tenco of '20 years at Kaingaroa prison | camp for the attempted murder of Con- j stable Maher at Taumanmui eight years ] ago. A little over a week ago he broke > the camp and was arrested some days later J on the Taupo Road. Prisoner, in a long; statement, declared that ho escaped as a protest against his harsh and unjust sentence. The assault on Constable Maher did not amount to attempted murder, and he should have been charged with common 'assault, He had made several applications for remission of the sentence, hut J this had been refused. His Honor sentenced accused to twelve months' hard labour, his sentence to be concurrent with that he was now serving. The Judge pointed out that it was a pity prisoner escaped. He-seemed to base his grievance ; on tho fact that his appeal for remission , had not been acceded to. nis Honor would take into consideration the fact that prisoner while at liberty had committed ( no offence, and had not resisted re-arrest. . Prisoner could make another application to IW board for remission of his sentence. William Snriegins, alias McLisler, an habitual criminal, charged with escaping from Kainearoa orison ramp, was sentenced to six months' hard labour.