OBJECTS TO THE LAW.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16875, 23 October 1920, Page 7

OBJECTS TO THE LAW.

“BOLSHEVIK” IN COURT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Oct. 22. “I think th© accused is a Bolshevik,” •aid Mr. Hunt, when perusing the police report in the Supreme Court todiy, on John William M'Clure. who admitted nine charges of breaking and entering and theft, and a tenth charge of breaking and entering with intent. The crimes were committed over a wide area, most of them being at Thames. Mr. Hunt said accused was reported to have objections to the existing law, and to have stated that he would continue to commit offences as long as the law continued in its present form. Until four years ago, when M'Clure was 38 years of age, he had lived a decent life, but he suddenly went wrong, apparently under some kind of influence. In these four years he had been convicted a number of times, and in August last at Palmerston North, he was sentenced to throe years for breaking and entering, which term he was now serving. His Honour: “It is clear you are unfit to he at large, and that you are a dangerous criminal so far as breaking and entering and stealing property is concerned. Yon are sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour to begin at the end of your present sentence.” The accused: “That is eight years’ hard labour.” His Honour: "Considering the number of burglaries you have committed, I think it is very moderate.” The accused: “It has been brought out that I am not very normal mentally. Honestly, do you think anybody is going to serve eight years’ hard labour lor doing a lot of trivial things ? 1 would prefer to be classed as a lunatic. I have never injured a working man or robbed an orphan. Don’t you think it a bit hot. when I was not in gaol till I was 39 years old?” The accused continued to make a torrent of remarks in a loud voice, and after being assured by the judge that he would be examined by doctors to ascertain his mental condition, he was removed in the midst of a speech about not caring whether he got another two years for contempt of court, and that he would sooner be condemned as a lunatic than go through eight years’ hard labour.