SEVEN PRISONERS SENTENCED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 364, 4 March 1932, Page 6

SEVEN PRISONERS SENTENCED.

Elderly Man Gets Lengthy Term of Imprisonment. “MUST NOT BE LEFT FREE.” SEVEN PRISONERS, the majority from Timaru, were sentenced liv Mr Justice Adams in the Supreme Court this morning to varying terms of imprisonment. Archie Major, a single man, described as of a sub-normal mind, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, to he followed by a term of reformative detention not exceeding five years, on a charge of attempting to commit an unnatural offence. Two prisoners were admitted to probation, and the remainder were sentenced to detention in the Borstal Institution or to hard labour.

Reaeiv&d Stolen Goods. Arthur Charles Bunting, who pleaded guilty in the lower Court at Timaru to six charges of receiving stolen goods, was admitted to probation for a term of two years, with strict conditions. Ilis Honor said that Bunting had not been before the Court prior to those charges and the Probation Officer recommended probation. He would be ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution and to make restitution so far as the Probation Officer directed from time to time. He was ordered to provide the Probation Officer with a weekly record of his movements. Indecent Assault. David Francis Tanner, for indecent assault on a female, was ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding two years. “ I am unable to consider probation,” said his Honor. “ It depends entirely on your own conduct * how r long you will be detained,” he added, addressing the prisoner. Three Years’ Reformative. John Eric Harding, on eight charges of breaking and entering, was ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three 3'ears. Accused had nothing to say. His Honor said that the prisoner had a previous record. Two Years’ Probation. Two 3' ears’ probation, with an order for restitution, was the penalty imposed on Clifford Atkinson, aged 32 .years, on a charge of stealing £49 as a servant. Counsel said that, the prisoner was a married man with two children. He was an Australian by birth. lie had been employed as a purser on Australian transports during the war, and later with an Australian engineering firm for seven years. His wife was in poor health and prisoner had come to New Zealand and taken a position at Timaru. His wife was called to Australia to visit her father, who was ill. On arrival there slit, took ill herself and the prisoner had to send money to her. He took the money from his firm under stress. He had’a position to go to in Wellington, and could make restitution at the rate of £2 a month. The Crown Prosecutor said that the

offences were spread over three months. It was apparent that the offences had been committed owing to the financial difficulties of the family. “ Repellant to Human Nature.” Archie Major, aged 55 years, a single man, for attempting to commit an unnatural offence, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and thereafter ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding five years. Counsel described the prisoner as of sub-normal mind. ” This is one of those offences absorepellant to human nature, and the statement made by counsel is in line with the report of the Probation Officer,” said his Honor. “ It seems be ought to be examined to ascertain his mental condition, but the dut>* of this Court is to see that he is not left free to commit other offences of this nature for a long period.” *‘ Another Chance." ” I wish to ask for another chance,** said James Hardy, a Maori, of Little River, found guilty of carnal knowledge of a young girl. He was ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding two years. The Crown Prosecutor said that the Probation Officers’ report showed that Hardy had a bad name among his own people, the Maoris. He had been before the Maori Council and warned concerning his behaviour and his relations with women in the district. ” I think it is best in his own interests and certainty in the interests of 3’oung girls to sentence him to a period of reformative treatment,” said his Honor. Forgery and Uttering. Leslie Alwvn Olson M’Kenzie, on three counts of forgery and three of uttering, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, to be followed by two ears’ reformative detention. His Honor said that M’Kenzie had been sentenced in 1921 on two charges of theft and in 1927 was sent to the Borstal for theft. For escaping from custody he was returned to the Borstal for three years. “ The report seems to show,” he’said, ‘‘that he is apparently incorrigible and must be dealt with on that footing.”