PAWELKA'S SENTENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9735, 23 July 1910, Page 5

PAWELKA'S SENTENCE.

STATEMENT BY DR. FiNDLAY

PRISONER'S MENTAL CONDITION

TO BE REVIEWED

( By Tclegravli — Presa Association.)

WELLINGTON, Friday.

A deputation waited upon the Minister of Justice (Hon. Dr Pmdlay) to-day with a petition that inquiry be made into the mental couditiou of the prisoner Pawelka, with a view to the possible revision of the sentence of twenty-oue years iinposod on him by Mr Justice Cooper.

After reviewing the case at length, Dr Findlay said lie thought it was iiis fluty to tell them that, altogether apart from any evidence wnicli was called at the trials, he had in his possesion information and medical reports which would render it necessary for the prison authorities, including the Minister of Justice, to exercise the closest scrutiny and investigation of Pawelka's behaviour before ho was again set at liberty. He did not think the general publication of these documents would do good. He did not wish, however, to make any mystery about them to the deputation. It would, lie added, be seen that the medical reports showed Pawelka to be a man of dangerous abnormality, who could only be set at liberty—if at all—after clo?e scrutiny by traiued authorities over a lengthy period. The request to have the sentence reduced, it was the Minister's painful duty to decline.

In reply to a question, Dr Fiudlay said that Pawelka's mental condition would be reviewed from time to time.