A PRISONER’S REQUEST

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 74

A PRISONER’S REQUEST

ASKS FOR HARD LABOUR NOT REFORMATIVE DETENTION. WELLINGTON, August 4. “ I would like to ask that I be given Uard labour and not a period of reformative detention,” said Leonard Walter Lash, a labourer aged 34, when asked if he had anything to say before he was sentenced on charges of breaking and entering and theft by the Chief Justice (Mr Justice Myers) to-day. Lash pleaded not guilty to four counts preferred against him, but the jury after a retirement of half an hour returned a verdict of guilty on the charges of breaking and entering the shop of Howard Persons, tobacconist, Mercer street, and stealing clothing valued at £6. Answering his Honor, the prisoner admitted that he had been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in June, 1929, but said that if he had had the means then he copld have proved his ease. He admitted’ that he had been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for forging a cheque. “ I think a term of hard labour would meet the case,” he said. “Reformative detention is just the same as hard labour, and I would sooner have hard labour.” His Honor: There is a difference, you know, but not in actual treatment. Finally a sentence of two years’ imprisonment with hard labour was imposed on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. “ Thank you,” said the prisoner as he left the dock.