CONVICTED 34 TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 6

CONVICTED 34 TIMES

SINGLE MAN SENT TO GAOL

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 24.

Stated by the magistrate to have been convicted 34 times, mostly for theft, Thomas John Henry Foote, aged 29 years, single, was sentenced to one year’s reformative detention on one of six charges heard today. Counsel for Foote, Mr Tarrant, said accused left gaol on June 1 and obtained employment, but as soon as his prison record became known was discharged. He subsequently fell to drinking. “He is one of a type which, when it takes to drink, takes also to petty offences in order to get more drink. It is a case for a doctor rather than a court of law.” Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.: What could a doctor do?

Mr Tarrant: I do not know, sir, but I do think the public has not gone far enough in investigating methods to deal with cases of this type. Mr Mosley: This man has been convicted 34 times, mostly for theft. He has had probation extended, he has been convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon and he has been imprisoned. Society must protect itself from depredations of this kind whether the offender is weak or not. A better way might have been to have him placed under supervision for a number of years, but unfortunately we cannot do that. The only course we can take in the interests of society is to put him away for. a time.