PENALTY OF CHIME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7446, 22 May 1911, Page 1

PENALTY OF CHIME

PRISONERS SENTENCED VARIOUS - OFFENDERS DEALT WITH. Four prisoners were brought before the Supreme Court on Saturday morning for sentence. Tho first one was sentenced by Mr Justice Chapman, by whom he was tried, and the other three by the Chief Justice. AS A DETERRENT TO OTHERS. William Haining, who had been convicted of criminal assault, was first put forward, his counsel, Mr Wilford, drawing attention to the jury’s recommendation to mercy. The Crown Prosecutor mentioned a previous conviction against the prisoner. Mr Justice Chapman said he assumed that tho prisoner's character was respectable, but it was the duty-of a judge in such cases to impose a considerable sentence of imprisonment by way of a deterrent. The number of such cases revealed a danger to tho community which must ha dealt with in a decisive way. Prisonei would be sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour, with an additional period of three years’ reformative detention. ' PROBATION REFUSED. An application for procatiou was made by Mr S. J. Moran on behalf of Ernest JJJwin Thompson, wiio was brougnt up ior sentence -lor attempting to procure a noxious thing for an unlawful purpose. Prisoner haa been convicted of the oirence in Novemo-er last, when a point of law was reserved for the consideration of the Court of Aippeal, The Chief Justice refused , the request and sentenced the - prisoner to impr-son-ment tor fourteen months, the term to date from the time of conviction. TWELVE MONTHS FOE ASSAULT. ' A sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment was imposed on Georgo Arthtir Aldo, who had been convicted of assaulting Charles Nicholls and causing him actual bodily harm. His counsel, Mr H. F. O’Leary, mentioned that the jury had strongly recommended him to mercy. Evidence as to the previous good character of the prisoner was given by Felix Black, formerly captain of the steamer Pareora. Counsel .-also explained that his -client was a Finn by birth and that a woman was tho indirect cause of the trouble. Ho asked for probation. The' Chief Justice said he could not grant probation, but he would give weight to tho recommendation of tho j ury- and inflict a sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment. WHOLESALE. BURGLARY, ... Tho last prisoner who -was dealt with was Arthur Thomas Reid, alias Arthur Thomas, who had pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to thirteen separate charges in connection with burglaries -in Wellington. , . , , A sentence of two years imprisonment was imposed, tho Chief Justice mentioning that he could have .given accused an indeterminate sentence for what he had done.