SEVEN YEARS’ GAOL.

Wairarapa Age, 9 August 1926, Page 5

SEVEN YEARS’ GAOL.

A PALMERSTON CASE. PALMERSTON NORTH, August 7.— At the Supreme Court this morning, Mr. Justice Reed sentenced Ernest Taniwha Sutherland to seven years ’ imprisonment with hard labour, on each of three charges of attempted murder, assault, causing bodily harm, and arson. The terms are to be concurrent. Counsel pleaded for leniency on behalf of prisoner, whom, he said, had never previously shown any criminal tendencies. He was an educated Maori and reached the rank of lieutenant in the Flying Corps during the war. He wag passionately fond of his wife and children, whom his wife left during the war to tour with a theatrical company. They had disagreed since his return, and his wife had instituted separation proceedings, claiming custody of the children, who Sutherland was looking after, washing, feeding and dressing them. The offences had been the result of an uncontrollable impulse, amounting to temporary insanity, and the prisoner had given himself up voluntarily to the police. His Honour said that counsel’s statements regarding the home troubles had been borne out by the police reports, but he could not lose sight of the fact that Sutherland was lucky that his wife had not died, and he was not being charged with murder. He would have to impose a substantial penalty.— (PA.).