THE COURTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18490, 4 February 1930, Page 4

THE COURTS.

SENTENCES AT AUCKLAND. not case forTprobation. — _ »r»i*»B-raDh—Press Association. By T ' February 3 Several prisoners were sentenced by Mr Justice Smith m the Supreme C< Bichard James Lanigan (26), forrnerly a clerk in the Lands Department was sentenced to months’ reformative detention f° r theft of £206 while a Government serVa Counsel said that two years ago prisoner’s wife became ill, and when faced bv bills he converted two large denomination stamps into cash and went on d °“While lS it is fairly clear that the prisoner is unlikely to offend again, said his Honour, “I have a duty to the State, and therefore cannot grant probation. If I do it will be an intimation to every State servant with dishonest tendencies that he may take up to £3OO without fear of punishment. I take into consideration in fixing sentence that prisoner has confessed of his own accord. It appears that he has been engaging in gambling, and that was the cause of his lapse. HARD LABOUR REFUSED. James Porter (23), a stable hand, was sentenced to three years’ reformative detention for theft, and for breaking, entering and theft. Prisoner asked that the term be hard labour, but the Judge declined, stating that it would be in prisoner’s interest that he should undergo reformative detention. CALCULATED BIGAMY. Stating that he had been unable to find any extenuating circumstances, the Judge passed a sentence of three years with hard labour on Owen Barber (45), farm labourer, for bigamy.. “The circumstances of your association with this other woman amounts to cold, calculating bigamy, for which there is no excuse.” His Honour said: “Apart from that, you have inflicted a grave and serious injustice upon a young woman.”