PUNISHED FOR CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18943, 14 February 1925, Page 11

PUNISHED FOR CRIME.

MORE PRISONERS SENTENCED. DECLARED AN HABITUAL. PROTECTION OF ' SOCIETY. A number of prisoners were sentenced by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court yesterday. Twelve months' hard labour and declaration as an habitual criminal formed the penalty imposed on Charles Henry Glover (Mr. Sullivan), who had admitted forgery and uttering and false pretences. Counsel said it was very difficult to ask for leniency, in view of prisoner's previous convictions. Prisoner was on a drinking bout at the time. He asked for a short, sharp sentence. His Honor uad a long list of previous convictions for false pretences, forgery and uttering and theft. He had left out convictions for trespassing on a racecourse and being drunk and disorderly. Prisoner agreed that the list was ' 'about right," "You have got to such a state, said the Judge, "that society has to be protected from you " He told prisoner that if the Prisons Board thought it was safe,' in the interests of society, to let him out. it could do so. Otherwise society would be protected by keeping him in confinement. GUILTY OF BRUTAL ASSAULT. SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. "I look upon this as a very brutal assault," said His Honor, in sentencing Ernest John Blasting (Mr. Sullivan) to six months' imprisonment for assault. Counsel said that, although prisoner had been charged with assault, causing actual bodily harm, the jury bad found him guilty only of common assault. He asked the Judge to consider the provocation he had received, and suggested that he be fined or admitted to probation. His Honor said prisoner was a man who could use h:s fists, and, so far as he could judge, the assaulted man was more or less under the influence of drink. He had probably allowed jealous feeling to take charge of him. YEAR'S DETENTION FOR THEFT. "LOSING THE POWER TO WORK." Found guilty of theft, Michael Walsh (Mr. Dennis ton) was ordered to be detained for reformative purposes for a period not exceeding 12 months. Counsel said the jury had found prisoner guilty only of theft,' and not of theft from the person He understood the probation officer had not made a good report, so it was hopeless to ask for probation, j Prisoner had already been some months in prison. His Honor said that, after looking at prisoner's record, it seemed that he was gradually losing the power to work. GIVEN ANOTHER OHANCE. A YOUTH'S INFATUATION. Failing to account for money, forgery and uttering and false pretences were the crimes to which George Thomas Nelson (Mr. Sullivan) had pleaded guilty. Counsel said prisoner, who was only 23 years old, appeared before the Court six years ago for a small offence. In tho present '"charges prisoner was given a motor-car to sell for a man. He obtained the price suggested, and having become infatuated with a young girl, he left Auckland for Wellington and there got married. He had yielded to a sudden impulse. The. Rev.'Jasper Calder had informed him that, if prisoner were given another chance, he would especially look after him. Prisoner's employer was willing to (jive him work. The Judge referred to the fact that a few years ago prisoner was admitted to probation. The'probation officer's report stated that be still considered that accused might be reformed, and he recommended probation. Warning prisoner that this probably would bo his last chance, he admitted him to probation for four years, and expressed the hope that his wife's mfluence would deady him. Prisoner was ordeied to pav costs of the prosecution, £lO 16s. and make restitution to the.extent of £63 18s. the amount stolen, within three years, the instalments to be fixed by the probation officer. ADJOURNED FOR SIX MONTHS. STATEMENT REGARDING OPIUM. "I have practically no confidence in a promise made by a man addicted to drink, unless he has been treated medieailv, ■ said His Honor, in dealing with Ernest Arnold Curtis (Mr. Matthews,, found guilty of attempted improper relations with"a mentally defective woman. Counsel said he understood the medical report disclosed that prisoner had been 1 addicted to opium. He had been found to be quite, sane in a legal sense. His Honor: He is a degenerate Counsel said atcused was weak, but was ' not a great meraee to the community. He had been waiting trial for three months, and although the actual offence was grave, in all the circumstances it was ' not a very grave one. He asked ll's Honor 1 to let sentence be suspended. Prisoner had work to go to. Prisoner interpolated that he had been working very hard for the past two years. If given another chance he would pass his word of honour to stand to it. The .hido;e finally decided to adjourn the matter fornix months. In the meantime prisoner would be allowed out and_ the probation officer would report upon iinn. Prisoner must report to the probation officer at such times as reouired. At the end of six months he would see what he could do with prisoner.