HABITUAL CRIMINAL.
SENTENCED IN CHRISTCHURCH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Sept. 6 At the Supreme Court John Griffiths was sentenced to six years' hard labor for attempted rape on a girl at Burwood, three years’ hard labor on each of three charges of breaking and entering, and two years’ hard labor on each of three charges of theft, the sentences to be concurrent. Mr. Justice Reed, in passing sentence, declared Griffiths a habitual criminal. “As a habitual criminal,” the judge said, “you will be kept in prison at the discretion of the Prisons Board. It means life if the board, as I imagine it will, consider that a criminal like you should not be at liberty. You are one of the most dangerous criminals I have had to deal with.” Mr. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, said a cablegram had been received that Griffiths was wanted in New South Wales for having chloroformed algirl in her sleep. Evidence was given that Griffiths was born in Christchurch, sent to Burnham and an Australian chool in 1901. Subsequently he had a long list of * convictions in New Zealand and Australia, including burglary, indecent assault, and being illegally on premises. The judge dwelt on the grossness of Burwood’s crime, and said he would have ordered a flogging if he had not declare Griffiths a habitual criminal.
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Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1923, Page 6
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220HABITUAL CRIMINAL. Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1923, Page 6
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