"A CASE FOR PITY"

NZ Truth, Issue 1035, 26 September 1925, Page 4

"A CASE FOR PITY"

Old Man's Serious Offence (From "Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) Mr. Justice Reed was set a problem recently m Christchurch when a man of over 70 years came before him charged with an assault on a boy of 14 years. His Honor saw at once that prison was not the place for such a . man, who admitted that he could not control his feelings.

It was obvious ' also that he could not be allowed to be loose m society with the attendant risk of contamination of others. Where could the old man be placed so that he could be looked after properly? ■ ■ ; It was said that there was no Government institution other than a prison. Consequently his Honor withheld sentence to enable inquiries to be made as to whether a place could be found. for Carlyle Graham, the septuagenarian offender. NO SUITABLE PLACE. On Monday oC this week Graham entered the dock again for sentence. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr, A. T. Donnelly) announced that there was no 'institution such as- the Judge had had m mind when the old man first came before him.

.Mr, Justice Reed said he understood the Salvation Army had agreed to take charge of the man. Mr. Donnelly: I am very glad to hear that; I understood the Army was not prepared to do it. Mr. C. S. Thomas, on behalf of the prisoner, gave an assurance that the Army would give shelter- and care. A CASE FOR PITY. "Yours is more a case for pity than anything else," remarked his Honor to prisoner, "but lads must be protected, and you admit that you cannot control yourself. "The Salvation Army has been good enough to take- on itself the care of you. "You will- be ordered to come up for sentence within two years, conditional on your remaining with the Salvation Army m that time. "You are also ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings."