THE PENALTY OF CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18533, 18 October 1923, Page 7

THE PENALTY OF CRIME.

FORGERY AND UTTERING,

TWO YEARS' REFORMATIVE

CASE - FOR PRISONS BOARD.

A number of prisoners, who had pleaded guilty in the Lower, Court were brought before Mr. Justice Stringer for sentence in the 'Supremo Court yesterday. ! Mr. Mered/th appeared for the Crown.- . Four charges of forgery, three '.'charges of uttering and one of theft were admitted by Edward Browne (Mr. Hogg). " Counsel stated that prisoner had had a i .previous ' - conviction for ; embezzlement, ! 11 years ago, and Che Prison's Board had j released him after he had ', served 10 months of a sentence of _; two .years' j reformative . * detention. After his return from active service; he purchased a house j and committed himself ; to other, liabilities in regard to alterations 'and in buying furniture.! Counsel related the financial j difficulties!; in l ; which prisoner found him- j self, and- added that he had suffered from a ' nervous breakdown. ; He had borrowed ] money, the- rate of interest being -45 per, , cent.,' ;V"/-: ■ ' ;. : -- ■;■:'•■■■. '[■.'■ Hiis Honor said prisoner had robbed the bank to pay his old creditors. The cheques were so cleverly forged Chat they passed the bank officials. Counsel admitted that prisoner had acted with deliberate intention. The { amount involved was £233. Prisoner's crime was due to his; desire ;to save his wife and family from want. His Honor said the case .was one in which the Prisons Board might be able : to afford prisoner- some relief and he j would communicate with the board, so ,' that .consideration could be given to the: case at is early a stage as possible. , He sentenced prisoner to reformative defen-. tion for a period not exceeding two years. Young Man's Bad Start. A young man, " Alfred James : Fisher > Forbes, who had admitted three charges i of breaking, entering and theft said he • had been only seven months in the Dominion, and he did not think the charge would be so serious. He had;' had no money or food for three of four days at the time. He now had an offer of ■ employment at 15s a,, day. . / ;'. . Mr. Meredith said the .thefts were trifling ones. Practically only property j valued at 5s had noC. been returned- I

His Honor admitted prisoner* . to two years' probation and ordered him to pay £2 ■'■'■ 18s 6d, the cost of .the '.- prosecution by installments of £1 a month.:,.

False Statement to Postal Official. A plea for probation was made by* Mr. Osburne-Lilly on behalf of Robert. Hbnry William Styles, who had pleaded guilty to making a false statement under the Post and Telegraph Act. '■'■'_'. Counsel stated that prisoner, who was a carrier, when approached by a man :■- in / regard to V the payment' of a tailor's bill, ' said lie had posted/ Che money. Prisoner was taken. to the post office, where he stated he had obtained postal notes, which he posted on. a particular day. When interviewed by the police ho admitted the falsify of his previous statement. He then paid the amount of the account to - the % post: : master, to be remitted to the person who was, to; receive it. ; At j that particular time- prisoner had/ been drinking -fairly heavily His Honor placed prisoner on" probation for two years, and ordered him to pay the costs, £5, of the prosecution by installments. Ho would also /have to take out a .prohibition order • _-