THE COURTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18291, 14 June 1929, Page 4

THE COURTS.

PETTY OFFICER COMMITS BIGAMY. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 13. When Wilfred Minty, a petty officer on H.M.S. Veronica, appeared for sentence In the Supreme Court t.o-day cn a charge of bigamy, his counsel said that the young woman with whom he went through a form of marriage had entirelv forgiven him. Minty had a wife and children In England, and pay allotments had regularly been despatched to them. Counsel claimed that the only excuse for prisoner’s action was that he committed the crime In a moment of mental aberration. Appealing to the Judge not to impose a term of imprisonment, counsel raid that if this was done, Minty would be ccurtmartialled on release arid wulu lose privileges which he v/as due to receive on completing 22 years' sendee, over 19 years of which he had served. His wife and children would also lose their allotment if Minty was sent to gaol. The Crown Prosecutor undertook to inquire of the naval authorities as to procedure, and sentence was accordingly deferred until, to-morrow. SENTENCES IMPOSED. By Telegraph—Pr««» «*«nciation WELLINGTON, June 13. Oliver William Joseph Wright was sentenced to three months’ gaol for theft as a servant, by Mr Justice MacGregor. Wright was a clerk m the Money Order Office at Wanganui, where he retained £BO, and lent it to a friend. According to counsel he was making every endeavour to refund the money prior to his arrest, and actually was at a service car in Wellington, having raised £IOO on his life policy when the arrest was made. Mr Justice MacGregor said Wright must have known very well what he was doing when he took the money. He was a postal officer, in a position of trust. William Henry Cooper, for breaking, entering and theft at Wanganui, was sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment. John Langlois Maxwell Lefroy, for theft as a bank servant, and forgery at Pahiatua, was committed to the Borstal for two years. William Robert James Miller, for theft as a farm manager, at Levin, got 12 months’ imprisonment. Lewis Edmund Rohioff arid William James Ashmore, youths of lo years, were each sentenced to four years Borstal by Mr Justice MacGregor to-dav for breaking, entering, and theft. His Honor stressed that discipline was needed to prevent them entering on a life oi crime. Frank Lewis, for forgery, uttering theft and fabo pretences, with a record extending back some years in Australia. will have to serve three years, this being the longest of concurrent terms imposed by his Honor on such charges. SEVERE PENALTY. By Telegraph—Pr«.ss Arsoflail-jn WESTPORT, -Tune 33. In the Supreme Court this morning, before Mr Justice Adams, Colin Clyde Austin and George Eden Charles Hayward, for rape, were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, his Honor saving that there were no circumstances justifying leniency. ; Chistonticr George Curtain, Robert j John Douglas Kitto and George ; Thomas Howell, for unlawful carnal i knowledge were to 12 I months’ imprisonment. Louis Franklin Pain, on a similar charge was found not guilty.