PRISONERS SENTENCED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 10

PRISONERS SENTENCED.

A LONG SITTING. His Honor Mr Justice Adams spent about two hours in the, Supreme Court to-day sentencing prisoners. SERIOUS OFFENCE. John Smith Chapman came up for sentence for assaults on young girls. Mr J. R. Cunningham said that the prisoner, for whom he appeared, was born in Dunedin and was 58 years of age and single. His brother died in Seacliff Mental Hospital, and another member of his family was mentally afflicted. He had not been convicted of a serious offence for about 20 years. His Honor said that he could not overlook the seriousness of the offence. When a man, no matter what his age might be, set himself to corrupt young girls, a very serious view must be taken of his conduct. The prisoner would be sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. BREAKING AND ENTERING AND THEFT. Ernest Abernethy and Sydney Edward Loose came up for breaking and entering and theft. Mr A. J. Malley, for Abernethy, said that he was eighteen years of age. At thirteen years, he took part iu an escapade in the country, and had worked in. the country ever since. Bad company was the cause of the present lapse. Counsel would not; ask for probation, but the prisoner’s relatives and friends would do what they could for him if he wa.' sent to Papama, and would try to reform him. Mr O. V. Quigley, for Loose, said that the prisoner was twenty-two’ years of age. His employers testified t-o his honesty and industry. Air A. T. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, said that £3OO worth of property taken by the two accused was undisclosed. The probation officer’s report was not favourable. His Honor said that the offence be longed to a class that was becoming so frequent- that drastic punishment was called for. If it had not been for that, be would have given special consideration to the younger prisoner. Each prisoner would he sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment-, with hard labour, followed by reformative treatment for a term not exceeding three years. Referring to the case in which Loose had pleaded guilty to theft, Mr Quig- '■ ley said that Loose and Abernethy committed the crime together. and Loose was led away. He was only eighteen years of age. He asked for probation. Mr Donnelly said that the prisoner's offence seemed to be an isolated one. Abernethy, on this charge, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, to he concurrent with the sentence already imposed. Loose was ordered to be detained, for reformative treat merit for a term not exceeding three THEFT FROM A HOTEL. Cyril Eugene Walden and Norman j Wilson came up for theft from an | hotel. Mi' H. H. Hanna said that Walden i had not been following a criminal | career. His offence was the result of j drink and bad company. He partially ! supported a. widowed mother. Air Donnelly said t_hat Walden had ; been ordered to pay sums on account , ol an illegitimate child, but had failed to do so. The prisoners belonged to a class of hotel thieves. Wilson’s re- j cord was a very bad one. He had ' to be dealt with for breach of probation. His Honor said that the jury had found that the prisoners had acted in concert, and it was evident that there was a concerted scheme. M alden was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, and Wilson- to three years. Malden. who had pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to another charge, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, to be concurrent with his other sentence. GROSVENOR BRAWL. Mr C. S. Thomas pleaded for leni ency towards John Stack, guilty of causing actual harm. His Honor said that there was no doubt that the prisoner had had provocation. He would be fined £lO. HABITUAL CRIMINAL. His Honor ordered that George Evans, who committed false pretences by means of valueless cheques, should be declared an habitual criminal again, and should serve three years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each of the three charges, the sentences to be concurrent. TWO FORGERS. Joseph Solomon appeared for forgery (two charges) and breaking and entering and theft. Mr K. M. Gresson asked fqr leniency on account of the prisoner’s age, seventeen years. “1 can’t admit him to probation,” his Honor said. “JHe will be detained for reformative treatment for a term not exceeding three years.” Stanley Taylor, guilty of forgery (two charges), produced a medal, and said that it spoke of his sea services. Mr Donnelly said that it was a mercantile marine medal. Taylor was sentenced to six months imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. HEAVY SENTENCE FOR THEFT. Mr Donnelly said thqt Robert M'Laughlan, guilty of theft (two charges), had a bad reputation. He had been- sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment, and was out on license when he committed the thefts. M’Laughlan was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be cumulative, and was declared a habitual criminal. SENTENCE DEFERREI). Mr W. J. Hunter asked that Esma j Drury, who had committed an indecent | act towards young girls, should be ad- | mittecl to probation, in order that he ■ should stay with his brother-iil-law, | who promised to look after him. If is Honor said that the only alternative to probation was a long term of reformative treatment. He would defer sentence till 10 a.m. next Thursday 4 in order that inquiries should be made.