BALDWIN'S BREAK

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 6

BALDWIN'S BREAK

A Mai who was Misted from Mt Ctok Th« Penalty for Escaping from-GaoL * ' i * At th» Magistrate's Court, Welling ton, on Friday, before Mr, S. E. McCarthy, 8-fcL, James Baldwin, 24 years of age, was charged with being an incorrigible^ rogue, m that he did escape from a legal place of confinement, to wit, Mount Cook gaol, on August .8,-I*l6. - f Inspector Hendrey conducted the prosecution, and the defendant, who was unrepresented, elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty. Inspector Hendrey - explained that the accused was convicted m the Supreme Court' on his own plea of guilty on a charge of 'breaking, entering and thieving by day. That was on July 24, 1916, On August 3 of the same year he escaped from legal custody In Mount Cook gaol and had remained at liberty until be was arrested at Wanganui on December 28, 1916. "The Inspector of Prisons has asked mo to stress this case, on the grounds 7 that escaping from legal custody is on the increase, and the sentences imposed DO NOT DETER THE MEN from escaping. The policy of the prison is to give the men m gaol as much liberty as possible. It Is expected that the men shall respect that trust which Is Imposed m them and not Impose on it," sold Inspector Hendrey. Continuing, the Inspector explained that the Act allowed a term of reformative treatment not exceeding two years for the crime of escaping from legal custody. "Your Worship can imposo a term of reformative treatment to commence when his present term expires, and I ask that whatever term your Worship imposes that it will bo Buch that he will foel that it is real punishment, and that It shall commence at the expiration of his term m 1918," said the Inspector, who explained that the prisoner's career bad not been one* distinguished for honesty. His Worship: You are convicted and sentenced to two years' reformative treatment, such treatment to commence at tho expiration of the term you are now serving.