CONNOP PAYS THE PENALTY

NZ Truth, Issue 1198, 15 November 1928, Page 4

CONNOP PAYS THE PENALTY

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

XITHEN Arthur James Conoop. a seaman, took to crime to compensate'for the boredom of enforced idleness, he made' the biggest mistake of .his life and will pay for it m a term of three years' reformative detention, imposed by Judge Blair when Connop appeared before him last week for sentence on charges of ..breaking and entering and assault. ... ' •' •

The story of Connop's visit to.the home of Sydney Franklin, at Mt. Roskill, Auckland; his discovery m the house and the ensuing struggle m which Connop struck Franklin on the head with a jemmy, has already oeen related m the colun'ns of "N.Z. Truth."

When lined up before the judge for sentence, Connop had a sorry tale of adversity to tell." he had been unable to get work and was forced to commit the crime to which he had pleaded guilty.

As to the assault, he had never -^ised his hand wilfully to any man and the injury sustained, by Franklin must have been inflicted during the struggle. It was. not done intentionally.

A creditable record at sea was forthcoming m. a number of good discharges from ships on which Connop had served, but the judge — while stating that he would like to be as lenient as possible — emphasized the gravity of the offence and passed sentence as stated. '