Prisoner Prefers Hard Labor

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 1

Prisoner Prefers Hard Labor

"Reformative" is not Always Popular

When George Thomas Nelson, who pleaded guilty m the Auckland Supreme. Court 1 to -charges of" theft, forgery and uttering, and false pretences, was asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed upon him, he expressed the wish that Judge Reed would see his way to prescribe a term of imprisonment with hard labor' instead of.reformative detention. - •' • ■•-- '---.'-... „.

Mr. Pater son, for the Crown, said that since the prisoner was admitted to .probation he had been convicted of false pretences, theft and conversion of a motor-car to his own use. The Judge (to prisoner): Why do you want hard labor?— No answer. His Honor: You apparently know the best way. The last time you were before me, although you had several convictions before, I thought I would

give you a chance. I therefore admitted you to probation. You took advantage' of that by immediately starting false pretences again. I suppose there . is something m what you ask for, but I don't know that I shall grant you any particular concession. You will be sentenced to three years' reformative 'detention 'concurrent with the sentence you are at" present serving.