SUPREME COURT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19624, 19 October 1933, Page 11

SUPREME COURT

TWO PRISONERS SENTENCED. Robert Henry Meaelem and Laurence Meaclem who, on Tuesday were found guilty of the theft of inotor-cycle parts from a garage in Ashburton, appeared before his Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence. On behalf of R. H. Meaclem, Mr V. W. Russell pointed out that the prisoner was only 21 and had all his life before him. He contemplated getting married later this month. Bail had been made substantial and the prisoner had remained in custody for nearly a week and although he had two previous convictions, one involving the conversion of a car, they did not involve dishonesty. It was hoped the Court would extend as much leniency as possible on account of the prisoner’s youth. His Honour then handed Mr Russell the police report of the prisoner's previous convictions, counsel stating that while he had to admit that the list was a long one, most of the convictions had been due to the prisoner's upbringing and bad surroundings in his home life. Mr A. D. Mcßae pleaded on similar lines on behalf of L. Meaclem. His Honour said that Robert Henry Meaclem had. according to the report, since 1929 been before the Court no fewer than four times, when the benefits of the probationary system had been extended to him on three occasions and he had been sentenced to three years Borstal treatment. The Probation Officer did not recommend probation but reported that the prisoner persisted in associating with hoodlums and had lost his position through his drunken habits. The only course was to sentence him to a term of imprisonment with hard labour for three months. Laurence Meaclem had been granted probation in 1929 for a crime involving dishonesty. He was a married man with one child and since probation had been extended to him he had apparently been leading a sober, hard working life. Instead of sentencing him to Imprisonment his Honour proposed to release him on probation for two years under the usual statutory conditions.