WIFE'S HOME ENTERED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 14

WIFE'S HOME ENTERED.

HUSBAND SENT TO PRISON. SIX MONTHS IN GAOL. COMMENTS OF THE JUDGE. Sentenco of six months' imprisonment with hard labour was passed by Mr. Justice Ilerdman in the Supreme Court yesterday on Ernest William Armstrong (Mr. Dickson), who was found guilty on Wednesday of breaking and entering his wife's house with intent to commit a crime, On a charge of assaulting his son Leslie, 16 years of age, with an open razor, tho jury found Armstrong not guilty. Mr. Dickson said prisoner came before the Court as a first offender, lie was unfortunately a neurasthenic beyond any doubt, 110 was a man who had occupied a particularly good position as superintendent of a life insurance company for a number of years. The jury had come to tho conclusion that he was 'guilty of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, but tho only crime that could have been in the mind of the man was that of assault, and tho jury negatived assault. | It was really a sad case, and counsel had been faced with a difficulty in liand- ' ling it because a woman was involved and she was not in a position to defend herself. Nevertheless, the only course open to the prisoner was to tell what was in his mind when he went to the house. This was Armstrong's first breach of any criminal section of the law, and no injury had been done. His Honor said that although the offence of which Armstrong had been convicted was a serious one, and had cerI tain serious features, he proposed to [ take into account the fact that for many | years he was a respectable member of tho community, and he did not propose to pass a heavy sentence. Nevertheless, he must take into account that nothing transpired during tho hearing to justify Armstrong in going to his wife's house armed with a razor and threatening to use it upon bis son. It might* be that drink had betm partly the cause of his trouble, and perhaps jealousy. At any rate, there was some evidence that he had ill-treated his wife both before he went to Australia and after he came back. If he. was neurasthenic and suffering from drink a little time in prison would not do him any Itirm, and might do him pood. His Honor then passed sentence of six months' imprisonment with hard j labour, adding, "I hopo this sentence will i bo a lesson to you."