SUPREME COURT SENTENCES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 8

SUPREME COURT SENTENCES.

Former Civil Servant to Serve Fifteen Months for Theft of £lB3.

INCURRED DEBTS BY GAMBLING.

SIX PRISONERS came up for sentence before Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court this morning. Edward Joseph Robb, aged 38, a clerk, was sentenced to fifteen months’ reformative detention for theft as a servant, the sum involved being £lB3, the property ol the Post and Telegraph Department. Counsel said that in face of the Probation Officer’s report, which did not recommend probation, it was difficult to ask for probalion; yet Robb’s twenty years of service as a soldier and a Public Servant made the request possible.

The prisoner, added counsel, had a i record previously unblemished. A man , of some standing in the community had undertaken to look after him- if he were given anything less than gaol. ' “ Your statements are that you incurred debt through gambling and ! horse racing, as well as through providing for your family,” said his Honor to the prisoner. “ 1 cannot extfend you the benefits of probation.” An Arson Charge. Joseph Gillespit, aged forty-five, a labourer, appeared for sentence on a ' charge of arson. - ' Prisoner passed a written statement to the Judge. 1 “ You say you have never been out of work in your life, and you have work waiting for you if you are allowed probation? ” asked his Honor. “ Yes.” The Crown Prosecutor said that the Probation Officer recommended probation. Prisoner was under the influence of drink at the time, and he fully ' realised the gravity of the offence. “ I will give effect to the recommendations,” said the Judge. “ Luckily, the fire he started in a small build- 1 ing at Tinwald was easilv extinguished.” The prisoner was admitted to probation for three years, a special condition being that he should take out a prohibition order and keep it renewed for the probationary period, and not touch alcohol during that time. Attempted Burglary. Donald Joseph Smith, twenty-two. j described as a labourer, was commit-! ted to the Borstal Institute for two j years for attempting to break and enter ! a shop. The * Crown Prosecutor said that ; Smith was very young, and had been j influenced by bad company. The Pro- j bation Officer had * recommended a | term in the Borstal Institution. “ It is abundantly clear that you i need the benefits of discipline and training,” said his Honor to the prison- i Theft from Hotel. Vincent William O'Rourke, aged 30,

a labourer, was admitted to probation for three years for breaking and entering the Hibernian Hotel, Timaru, and committing theft. Counsel said that the prisoner was under the influence of drink when he broke into the hotel. He had oeen refused drink earlier, and came back to get into the bar through a trapdoor. While there he succumbed to the temptation to steal some silver monej’. Drink was his trouble. There was nothing premeditated in the offence. He was a married man, aged 30. “ 1 regard the crime as an*isolated one, which would not have been committed if prisoner had not been in drink.” said his Honor. “ Prisoner was paid in the morning and drank all day. lam able to extend the benefits of probation.” The accused was admitted to three years’ probation, on condition he should take out a prohibition order and renew it for three years, and abstain from .alcoholic liquor during that time. Edward Edwin M'Laren, 22, a labourer, had nothing to say when faced with a count of breaking and entering a shop, a count of theft, and another of breaking and entering a countinghouse, and committing theft. The Crow’n Prosecutor said that the prisoner was already serving a sentence of three months’ imprisonment. The prisoner was sentenced to one year’s reformative detention on each ! charge. The sentences were concurj rent, but cumulative with the sentence ! already being served by prisoner. | “ You pleaded guilty only after ! fingerprints had brought the case home ; to you,” said his Honor. Hard Labour Term. Robert Gordon Silcock. 42 years, a storeman, single, had pleaded guilty ' in the lower Court to an indecent as- ; sault upon a male. I The Crown Prosecutor said that i there were no convictions of a similar ! nature against the accused. , Silcock was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour.