PRISONERS SENTENCED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26916, 30 October 1948, Page 9

PRISONERS SENTENCED

SUPREME COURT SITTING

TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT Four prisoners appeared for sentence before Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court yesterday, and were each sentenced to terms of imprisonment. Assault Case Sentencing William John Keenan, aged 61, to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour on two charges of assault so as to cause bodily harm — the sentences to be served concurrently —his Honor said that of their class the assaults wqre very bad, and had resulted in grievous injury to two men. Mr W. McAlevey said that the prisoner was labouring under a sense of grievance. “ Keenan took the law into his own hands, and that is why he is in the dock to-day,” counsel said. Theft of Tools Milgs Middleditch, a wharf labourer, aged 47, was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for four months for the theft of tools at Port Chalmers. On behalf of the prisoner, Mr C. J. L. White said that Middleditch had the reputation at Port Chalmers of being an honest man. In view of the fact that he was a first offender, counsel asked the court for a monetary penalty or a term of probation. Hard Labour “Although the prisoner has a bad list, it is the first charge of this nature. It is not perhaps a gross offence of its type,” said Mr J. S. D. More, when appearing for Ronald Clarence McFarlane, a railway employee, aged 30, who had been found guilty of attempted indecent assault on a male. Farlane was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Breaking and Entering James Edward Ashley Perry, a labourer, aged 43, appeared for sentence on two charges—breaking and entering a warehouse at Port Chalmers and committing theft, and breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. Perry, who was not represented by counsel, had nothing to say. He was sentenced to reformative detention for 15 months on each charge, the sentences to be served concurrently.