PRISON SENTENCE AT 17

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17236, 16 April 1930, Page 3

PRISON SENTENCE AT 17

“OUTRAGEOUS” PENALTY

LONDON, Feb. 27

"Thank goodness those sentences are not passed nowadays,” exclaimed Mr. 11. C. A. Binglcy, the Marvlchone magistrate, on Saturday, when he was told that Mrs. Emily London, of Stibhing-ton-street, Somers Town, who was charged before him with stealing underclothing from a shop was sentenced at the North London Sessions in 1908. to nine months’ imprisonment for stealing an overcoat, although there was nothing else against her. Detective Short said that Mrs. London was 17 when the. sentence, was passed. That was tier only conviction, and she Jiad since married and brought up a family.

Mr. Binglcy : Nine months' imprisonment ! That was in the days when they used to pass those outrageous sentences, or lliov seem to me outrageous in view of modem practice. He turned to Mrs. London and asked : You seem a highly respectable woman. How did von come to do this?

Mrs. London's lips quivered, and she was unable to reply. “Tt is nn awful pity Hint you should fall again after all those years.” added the magistrate. ‘T must say you seem to have had a. very severe sentence. You have had a ( lean record for a long time and you will now he hound over in the sum of £5 to come up for judgment if called on within 12 months, and T shall place you on probation.”