PENALTIES FOR CRIME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 866, 18 November 1916, Page 10

PENALTIES FOR CRIME.

PRISONERS DEALT WITH. TWO CASES OF FOEG-EEY. Prisoners who had pleaded guilty in the lower court to the offences charged appeared before his Honour Mr Justice Sim in the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr S. G. Eaymond, K.C., appeared for the Crown. GIVEN A CHANCE.

Alfred Sampson, a young man of diminutive stature, was, put forward for sentence for forgery and uttering. Mr Donnelly, on behalf of the prisoner, asked for probation. Prisoner was 22 years of age, and had never been convicted of any offence before, having borno a good character hitherto. Ho had enlisted to go to the war, but had been rejected. His Honour: Does he reach tiie necessary height? I thought there was a limit.

Mr Donnelly: He does seem short, your Honour. His Honour: Ho does, certainly. Mr Donnelly: At the present time I suppose recruits are recruits,, your Honour.

Mr Raymond said the prisoner was a native of New Zealand and a labourer by occupation, and up to the present had never been convicted of any offence.

His Honour: Can his family help to make restitution of the money? What is his father?

Mr Donnelly: A paper seller. I would assume they have a very great struggle to live under present circumstances. Prisoner is getting only 25/a week.

His Honour thought the ease was one for probation. . Prisoner would be released on probation for three years, he to pay £3 towards the cost of the prosecution by instalments of 10/- per month. If the military authorities were willing to accept him as a soldier the probation officer wa.s to give him leave to enlist. A SHIFTLESS FHLLOAV.

Arthur Herbert Cooper appeared for sentence on three charges of forgery and uttering.

"All I have to say," he said, "is that I pleaded guilty to the charge, I wrote the cheques out because I was hard up. My intention was to pay the money back again as soon as I could. I had shearing to go to which I thought I would be able to get the money from."

His Honour: You seem to have gone ia for wholesale forgery —not a mere one ease.

Mr Raymond said prisoner w : as 35 years of age, a native of New Zealand, and a labourer by occupation. He was classed as a shiftless, weak sort of man. Ho deserted his wife and one child in Australia and had been living in New Zealand with another woman by whom he had four children.

His Honour said the case was not one for probation. Prisoner would be ordered to be detained for reformative treatment, and application could be made later to the Prisons Board, which might release him on probation.