PRISONER FROM NAPIER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 79, 12 March 1931, Page 5

PRISONER FROM NAPIER

GOOD WORK IN DISASTER CRIMES NOT MITIGATED WELLINGTON, March 11. Among the prisoners for sentence in the Supreme Court for breaking, entering and theft was a youth of 18, who was in Napier awaiting sentence at the time of the earthquake. His good conduct 011 that occasion was urged in extenuation by counsel, who asked that the prisoner might be given the benefit of probation. Mr. Justice McGregor said the crime of breaking and entering had been too common lately and probation, apparently, was not effective. The prisoner, Jock Hands, had admitted a series of thefts. He was sentenced to two years’ at Borstal. His companion, Alfred Arthur Stanley, aged 22, made no appeal and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. 1 In making the plea for Hands, counsel said that the prisoner had assisted in the rescue of a woman who had been buried in falling earth. Later he aided in recovering a fellow prisoner buried in the quarry, and afterwards conducted himself well when sent to the camp, where considerable liberty was allowed.