PRISONERS SENTENCED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21553, 26 July 1933, Page 12

PRISONERS SENTENCED

PERJURY ADMITTED UNTRUE EVIDENCE GIVEN MAORI SENT TO PRISON Having pleaded guilty to charges preferred against them in tlie Police Court two prisoners appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court yesterday. In asking for leniency on behalf of a Maori, Walter Tepania, aged 2!). who had admitted a charge of perjury at Kaitaia, Mr. C. A. Sneddon said the offence was not as serious as it would appear. Prisoner had been more foolish than criminal. He was caught shooting pheasants without a licence and on being prosecuted in Court he persisted in saying he held a licence at tho time ho was accosted by a ranger. His Honor said prisoner manufactured evidence with the intention of deceiving the Court, which was a very serious offence. In spite of the fact that ho was warned four times" by the magistrate, prisoner maintained that his false statement was- true. Prisoner had one previous conviction for dishonesty, having been fined for simple theft in 1929. It was quite impossible not to impose a term of imprisonment and prisoner would bo sentenced to six months' hard labour. Leniency was also sought for James Barriiigham Wheeler, aged 21. who had pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and ontering a shop in Waihi and stealing £2 5s 3d. Counsel, Mr. Green, said that prisoner, who was a first offender, had become stranded finally ciallv and had yielded to temptation.. He was extremely conscience-stricken almost immediately after committing the offence. Restitution would be made. In placing prisoner on probation for two years, His Honor agreed with counsel that tho young man had succumbed to sudden temptation. His Honor said prisoner gai;:ed entrance to the shop bv breaking tho gauze covering of a door and manipulating the lock from inside. Had there been a bolt at the foot of the door it was probable no crime would li<;vo been committed. Prisoner was ordered to refund tho amount stolen a i to pay the costs of the prosiontii r.s directed by tho probation officer.