A SHARP LESSON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 14

A SHARP LESSON

BURGLAR SENTENCED LOSSES AT RACES (Special to the Herald.J CHRISTCHURCH, this day. In the Supreme Court on Saturday, Leonard Wright, 37, who pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to breaking and entering and theft from a house in Christclmrch en November 13, was sentenced to six months' gaol with hard labor. Mr. McLauchlan, who appeared for Wright, said his client had led an exemplary life until the commission of the present offence. He was a hard-work-ing ' farm laborer with a distinguished war career.- He had already served seven days' gaol with hard labor for the offence, and it was submitted that a sufficient deterrent from any future crime would be probation with rigid conditions about attendance at racecourses, which had been the cause of the man's downfall. The prisoner had gained at the war a habit of betting, and had dissipated one and a half year's savings in about a day and a half during National week. The Crown prosecutor said about £lB of the money stolen had not been recovered. Mr. Justice Stringer said it appeared from the depositions that the attempt to which the prisoner had pleaded guilty was not determined. It was a foolish act, and a short sharp turn of imprisonment would perhaps loach him that losses on the racecourses could not, be made up by breaking into houses. Mi". McLauchlan : But he lias served seven days. His Honor: Well, now he will servo six months in goal with hard labor.