CHARGES REHEARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20966, 19 February 1938, Page 4

CHARGES REHEARD

SENTENCE VARIED By I pieuraph Association WELLINGTON. February 18 An unusual procedure was carried out in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. when two charges of car conversion against Thomas Henry Hale, aged 25, labourer, were reheard before Mr Stilwell, S.M. In the case of one charge Hale had pleaded not guilty originally, but had been convicted and sentenced to a term In gaol. Later another man charged with other offences had admitted this offence. The admission might have been true or otherwise, it was stated, but In view of the doubt, the Department advised the accused to ask for a rehearing. The accused was an old offender making his twenty-fourth appearance in Court, and had already served six months of the two-year sentence imposed for conversion of the car mentioned. Counsel said this should be taken into consideration in connection with the other charges to which accused had pleaded guilty, and had been convicted and ordered to come up for sentence. The Magistrate said the suggestion should be acceded to. The accused had served approximately six months on a charge now dismissed for want of evidence. The action of the Police was quite praiseworthy. Having regard to all the circumstances accused was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, and ordered to pay witnesses expenses.