PRISONER'S COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 12

PRISONER'S COMMENTS.

COMPLIMENTS FOR JUDGE.

" JUSTICE WITH MERCY." OFFER TO MAKE RESTITUTION. [llY TELEGRAPH. —OWN fORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. When a prisoner has been found guilty by a jury in the Supreme Court he is asked by the registrar whether he has anything to say why sentence should not be passed on him, and in the great majority of cases the prisoner has no. comment to make. In the Supremo Court this after noon, however, a prisoner, Charles Henry Lee Walter, who had been found guilty of fraud, made a speech of some length to Mr. Justice Adams, complimenting him upon his reputation for justice and mercy. Walter was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.

The charge against Walter, who conducted his own case, wns that on Sep-' tember 29. 1928, at Marshland, having received £IOO from William Georgo Chapman on terms requiring him to pay it to John McLeod, he did fraudulently omit to do so, thereby committing theft. "So impressed have I been with Your Honor's summing-up that I consider that 1 am really guilty of tho offence," said Walter. "Had I viewed it in tho light in which you pointed it out to the jury I would have pleaded guilty, instead of not guilty. I will undertake to say that I have served the sentence that you will pass upon me I will pay back tho money, plus 6!j per cent, interest. "Tho way in which I have handled th« money and did not account for it was unjustifiable and condemns mo in the eyes of tho law. I do not crave leniency. This is tho first time upon which I havo come into personal contact with Your Honor, but 1 know Your Honor's reputation throughout the Dominion for justice, tempered with mercy.