SENT TO PRISON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 4

SENT TO PRISON

Serious Offence by Woman Judge and Counsel By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 28 Three years’ hard labour was imposed by Mr Justice Quilliam in the Supreme Court to-day on Marjorie Pickering (42), found guilty by a jury on two charges of unlawfully using an instrument with intent to commit a criminal offence. Mr Ongley, for the prisoner, suggested that sentence should be postponed until the Judge had an opportunity of considering an application Mr Ongley wished to make concerning the Judge s directions to the jury. The Judge: I can see nothing wrong with my summnig up to the jury. Mr Ongley said if the prisoner was sentenced and if the matter went to the Court of Appeal she might serve seven or eight montlis and then be found not guilty. There was a very good reason why the Courts of Justice should be jealous of the liberties of the people. There was a spirit rampant in the world to-day that people had no rights. The Judge: It is to preserve those rights that sentences are inflicted. Mr Ongley asked the Court, as a British Court, to be absolutely jea'.ous of the interests of the people. The Judge: The Court is quite competent to look after that.

Mr Ongley outlined the nature of the submissions he wished to make regarding the directions to the jury at the trial, and also suggested that the Judge should say what was the meaning of the verdict. There were two charges against the prisoner, and the jury had returned one verdict of guilty. Did that mean guilty of only one charge, and, if so, which, or did it mean guilty of both? The Judge said he was satisfied with the perfect regularity of the trial. The application to postpone sentence would be dismissed. Mr Ongley, addressing the Court on the matter of sentence, said the prisoner had the support and upbringing of a family cast upon her for a long time, and that apparently she had done it well. She was not the instigator of the offences, but had been sought by other people. The Judge: How did they know where to find her? Mr Ongley: I am not aware how they knew, but there is no suggestion that she approached these people in any way. The Judge: She will be sentenced only for the crime she committed. When counsel went on to say that the jury and public took the view that people who instigated crime were free, the Judge said he should address that complaint to the legislature, not to him. When sentence was imposed, accused cried: “What about my children?” and was assisted weeping from the dock.