SUPREME COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23957, 4 November 1939, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED THE OFFENCE OF PERJURY POLLUTING STREAM OF JUSTICE i'Per United Press Association; WELLINGTON, Nov. 3. ’ In the Supreme Court sentences were to-day imposed as follows: William Clifford Berice Symonds, a spray jainter and labourer, aged 23, and Cyril Gordon McAlinden McKey, a motor trimmer, aged 24, for breaking and entering and theft, and one charge of the unlawful conversion of a motor car, 15 months’ reformative detention in each case on each of the charges, the sentences to be concurrent.

Mary Jones, a waitress, aged 31, for bigamy, probation for 12 months. A medical examination of the prisoner to ascertain his mental condition generally was ordered in the case of Robert Cecil David Mcßitchie, a labourer and railway surfaceman, aged 22, who appeared for sentence for perjury committed at .Stratford. His Honor (Sir Michael Myers) said his reason for the examination was that the probation officer, after considerable hesitation, suggested that the prisoner should be granted probation. At first sight he found himself entirely unable to agree. “ I regard this case as a very serious one indeed,’’ said the Chief Justice. “It is a charge of polluting the very stream of justice. This young man went into court and gave evidence that he had seduced a girl who was bringing proceedings against someone else under the Destitute Persons Act in respect of a child. That was absolutely untrue, as he now admits. According to his statement to the police he did it to help the person against whom the girl was taking proceedings for a money reward. I regard that as an offence of the mpst serious character, and it is not a question of punishing this young man, but a matter of letting other’young men know, and other persons who may not be young or men, know h.at perjury of any sort, particularly of this kind, is regarded as a most serious matter.” - Mcßitchie was remanded for sentence until November 14. In the case of Robert William Pengelly. a labourer, aged 25, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful carnal knowledge, and who, his counsel said, had had a clean record until the present offence, his Honor said that if the girl concerned had been of loose character he might have considered the case much more favourably, but as it was it was the duty of the court to protect the young girls of the community, especially those who could not be said to be of loose morals. “ Unfortunately, there are a number of cases that come before the court where the girl, young though she may be, is just as blameworthy as the young man, very often more so,” his Honor added. "Against that type of girl, as I have said more than once, the young men of the community must be protected. But that is not the case here. There is no suggestion of a girl of loose morals. I do not propose to make the sentence a heavy one. but it must be severe enough to let young men similarly minded know that such behaviour cannot be allowed to pass with impunity.” A sentence of eight months’ imprisonment with hard labour was imposed. WANGANUI SITTINGS (Per United Press Association; WANGANUI, Nov. 3. The following prisoners were sentenced in the Supreme Court to-day by Mr Justice Smith:— Rukuwai Kirona, aged 58, attempted carnal knowledge at Patea, probation for two years and to pay costs (£25). William Mosen, negligent driving causing bodily injury, licence suspended for two years and to pay costs (£l7).

John Motueatua Ruakawa, aged 22, attempted assault at Taihape, probation for two years and to pay costs (£l7 ss).