SUPREME COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18676, 4 October 1922, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS FOR SENTENCE. His Honor Mr Justice Hosking sat at tho Supremo Court yesterday for the purpose of sentencing prisoners. FORGERY. William Joseph Fox, alias John B. King (forgery), handed in a written statement, and the judge, after studying it, said that the prisoner asked for probation, on the ground that ho had boon suffering terribly from remorse during the last 18 months. If that were so, his Honor could not understand why prisoner had not given himself up. Prisoner had said that Re would repay the £6O he had got by means of a forged cheque. His duty was to pay that money even if ho suffered imprisonment. The probation officer stated that prisoner oamo from tho North Island. His Honor remarked that prisoner had not supported his wife and family for three years, and that did not recommend him for probation. The police, report stated that prisoner was very much addicted to drin. He had committed a barefaced robbery of £6O, and his was not a case for probation. He would be sentenced for two years’ detention for reformative purposes. BREAKING AND ENTERING. Cyril Victor Barker, alias Blake (breaking and entering "and theft) handed in a statement, which his Honor said was that prisoner realised that' instead of keeping out of tho mire ho had been getting deeper into it through not going straight. That was very true. Prisoner seemed to have had several trials. He had been originally sent to Burnham when 12 years of age. Then he had been sentenced in 1917 .to 14 days’)', imprisonment for. theft. a In 1915 he had been sentenced- 'for being a rogue and V vagabond, and fjjjfr resistip'g the police. ; In November, 1918,; been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for breaking and entering and theft, and was at present undergoing a term of three months on each of ■ three charges. Tho best time for prisoner to realise-that he was sinking deopel; ihtW The vwMAVwg-wh£ii he was out of cutody. He had already qualified.Jo bo made an habitual criminal. Prisoner admitted that the record of Ids previous career was correct. His Honor said it would bo better for prisoner, to undergo a long term for reformative. instead of a short sentence. That would give him a chance when ho came out of being under the control of tho Prisons Board,- which might , be of help to him. Prisoner, would bo sentenced to bo detained for reformative purposes -for a period not exceeding three years.