PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18551, 8 November 1923, Page 7

PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME.

BREAKING AND ENTERING. TWO YEARS' HARD LABOUR, A number of persons who had pleaded guilty in the lower Court appeared before Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence. Two years' hard labour was the sentence imposed on Archibald Alexander Charles Scott, who had admitted charge© of theft, breaking and entering and theft, and wilful damage with intent to obstruct the transmission of telegrams. His Honor: You have a bad record for a \oung man. Prisoner: Yes, I know I have been very silly. " You have been given chanco after chance," remarked the Judge, reading Scott's record, which included convictions for forgery, theft, impersonating the police, and escaping from custody. " It is quite cloar you have made up your mind to lead a criminal life," concluded His Honor, who ordered that the sentence imposed should commence at the expiration of the term of two years' imprisonment the prisoner is at present serving for escaping from custody. Probation for Theft.

The wrongful conversion to his own use of Government moneys totalling about £50 while in the employ of a Government Department had been admitted by Everard Storrs Braithwaite, aged 25 (Mr. A. Moody). His Honor said that during the §ast 18 months it had beer, the practise of r ew Zealand Judges to send to pricon men who, in positions of trust, committed theft. However, Braithwaite had apparently borne an excellent character and he would bo given a last chance. He was placed on probation for two years. The theft of a handbag from the Paeroa railway station in October was the cause of the appearance of Arthur Charles Saunders, aged 19, who had pleaded guilty at Thames. He had been found in possession of some of the stolen property and subsequently admitted the offence. Mr. Paterson, for the Crown, said everything had been recovered except a bankbook, which had been burned. The Rev. Jasper Caldsr, Anglican city missioner, on behalf of Saunders, said that accused had taken the bag at the suggestion of another man, but when interviewed made a statement exonerating him and accepting all responsibility as the other man was married and had a family. The Judge said ho would treat Saunders very leniently, as it was his first lapse, but hop*d that this case would be a warning to him. Saunders was placed on probation for two years.

An application by Mr. Calder for suppression of the name was refused. Youth Given a Chance. A youth, aged 17, for whom Mr. A. Moody appeared, was placed on probation for two years on a' charge of destroying a postal packet. His Honor said that as- a general rale the Court imposed a term of imprisonment in such cases, as the offence was regarded as serious, but ho did not think the youth realised what he was doing, and in any case, lie was not a regular Government servant, rut only a casual worker. In consideration of his youth and previous good behaviour he would be given a chance. Offence by Young Maori. When a young Maori, Kumere Tupaoa, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl wider 16 years, appeared in the dock, His Honor said that bad the prisoner been a European he would have sent him to gaoi, but he realised that a Maori did not look at things in quite the same way as a white man, especially in matters of this kind. In the circumstances, and in view of his.youth, the prisoner was placed on probation for two years, with a warning.