A CONFIRMED CRIMINAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 13

A CONFIRMED CRIMINAL.

AN UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL FOR

LENIENCY. WELLINGTON, May 8. An old man named George Lee, aged 68 j-ears. who was arrested in Napier on charges of burglary in Wellington and elsewhere, was found' guilty in thxs Supreme Court, and in reply to a question why sentence should not be pronounced Jie said : — " I scarcely know what to say after tbe terrible character your. Honor has heard about me." It was 50 years, he said, since he first landed in New Zealand. He was then 18 years of age, and an apprentice on a ship, from which he deserted at Lyttelton. Later on, be served in the Maori War, but after that, unfortunately, he went to New South Wales, fell into bad company, and commenced a criminal career. His Honor had said that he (accused) was an expert burglar, but during the time he had been a bungler at thegame. He had never had a chance. His Honor would see the terrible sentences lie' had done. He had Seen out of gaol and in- again. The last time he finished hisisentence in New South Wales in 1901, the Controller-general asked him if he would' like to go to New Zealand. He replied' that he would, and his fare was paid, and he landed in Wellington with 15s in his pocket. He persevered hard, and thoroughly made up his mind' to lead an honest life. He watched the papers to see if he could see an advertisement: ""Wanted an old man." He could not do hard, laborious work, because he was old. If he had seen such an advertisement; he would gladly have jumped at the billet, if it had' been worth only, a few shillings a week and bis food. H& paid 5s for his room, and at the «nd of the week he had no money left, and had to leave his room. Then he- knew what it was to live out in the cold without a bed, and' to go without food. What was tb» consequence? He fell back into evil courses, and it was only a short time before he was 1 taken into custody in Dunedin, and received a- sentence of five years. After doing that sentence he came to Wellington, and again, watched the papers. It was no good, as he- found out that they did not want an old man. He fell* back into* evil courses, and', after a few month*, he was again' before the court. For the- las* 40 years he had only had a few montha out of gaol. " Youi must admit that I have led a miserable life-," said the accused-, with' some shaw of feeling, and he a«k*d his Honor" in view of that to give him on* more chance- He had never had- a chance, and he promised faithfully tha* he would never again appear before a court of justice.

His Honor said that the -accused had had a great number of cßanc.es. He. began stealin? as far back as in 1865, and' he had been, guilty of burglary, for which he- got 14^ :jjears in. Sydney. For hoiisebreaking in Sydney h«f got 6ve years, for having housebreaking implements five years, and' in Dunedin for houaabreakinsr (four charges) he received five years. lf ln my_ opinion your reform is impossible," said his- Honor, "and- the proper thing to do is that you should, be kept from preying on society by being kept in gaol" for the rest of your life." Hie Honor said he w # aa not, hew^ ever, going to inflict that sentence. He had. power, to ihflicfc a sentence of 4£. years' imprisonment? under the law, but he should only inflict the sentence usually passed in this- class of offence. He believed that this wa» a case in which it was absurd to think that any reform was possible. The accused was no sooner out of gaol than he began house&rea-kirrg again, and from the evidence 1 that had come out he believed that he had been guilt; of more housebreaking than he had been convicted of. His Honor then passed sentence on the various charges; aggregating seven years, to commence' at the end of the sentence of she months *hich the accused is now serving for having skeleton keys in his possession at Napier. As to the jewellery found on the accused, which had been identified, by witnesses, that would be returned to the ownersi

Mr Myers said there were other cases pending against th« accused, more recently than the Wellington cases — from Christchurch, where money was taken. His Honor said that under those circumstances the disposition, of the money would be held over for farther consideration.