OLD SOLDIER'S LAPSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 15

OLD SOLDIER'S LAPSE.

LENIENCY OF COURT.

PRISONER AFTER MONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

DUNEDIN, Friday

A veteran of Mons, Joseph Campbell Scott, who was wounded in the great retreat, and who was a prisoner of war in Germany and Russia for over four vears, appeared before Mr. Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court to-day for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering at Oamaru.

Mr. E. J. Anderson, who appeared for accused, said Scott had been in New Zealand since 1923. He was 40 years of age, and came from Scotland, where he was born. His wife and young daughter were at>present in Scotland. Scott, who had been only in intermittent work, had been maintaining them for 12 years. During the Great War, Scott was wounded at Mons. He was taken prisoner and served for four years in prison camps in Germany and Russia, where he suffered many privations. " Hitherto he had borne an exemplary character. This seemed to have been his very first lapse. The offence was a stupid one. Scott broke into the house of a friend and stole a torch and some ancient coins. It had been suggested that Scott should return to Scotland, and a number of kindlvdisposed people were making arrangements in that respect. The* Crown Prosecutor, Mr. F. B. Adams, said the case was a strange one. Scott seemed to have no particular reason for committing the crime. His Honor said: "This is your first offence known to the law, and I shall presume it is the first crime you have ever committed. Your offence, though technically burglary, is unlike the crimes thht recently came before me, and without neglecting my duty to society, I think I may release you upon probation for two years."