SUPREME COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 25

SUPREME COURT.

WELLINGTON, January 21. Eight prisoners who had pleaded guilty in the lower court to charges of crime were brought before Mr Justice Reed in the Supreme Court to-day for sentence. In sentencing Wi.liam George Cundy to 10 years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, for' assault on a male, his Honor said the case was a very bad one. In ,1911 prisoner was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for interference with boys, and had been allowed out on license, and, according to the police report, before the expiration of that term prisoner committed the offence which he now admitted. Appearing for Thomas Keely, aged 28, a labourer, who had admitted a barge of indecent - assault on a female, Mr T. C. Cleary said that accused was a young man of low mentality, and he had been so practically all his life. His Honor said this was a case in which the protection of children was involved, and a sentence of two years’ reformative detention was imposed. . “The crime was due to a craving for alcoholic liquor.” said Mr W. E. Leicester, who appeared for William Mawson Channen, who admitted ; charge of theft at Wellington. His Honor said that, in view of all the circumstances in this case, prisoner would be let out for six months to see if he could resist the craving. Bonds must be furnished for his appearance at the end of the period specified. Walter Worthington, ?.ged 38, a baker, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour for forging and uttering at Napier. His Honor said the prisoner had a bad recoi 1. Joseph Francis . Ward, aged 46, a labourer, and Albert Joseph Bell, aged 43, also a were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, for breaking and entering and theft at Palmerston North. Harold Joseph Whittles alias Harold Tobin, aged 25, a motor mechanics who admitted a charge of the theft of a motor car and of breaking and entering at Feeding, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with hard labour. His. Honor said that., accused had numerous previous convictions recorded against him. . - Mr J- W. Scott, who appeared for Joseph Pyrtie; Howe, aged .38, a carpenter, .who’ had” admitted a charge of theft at ■the -Upper- Ilutt, said-, that accused hadhitherto borne an excellent character in the district. His Honor ‘admitte3?accjise<J to probation for two years, op'’condition that hte made restitution of the amount stolen'in sums to be fixed by the probation officer.’ J: 1 " 5 ;’- ■■