“A PERFECT PEST TO SOCIETY.”

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 885, 8 May 1903, Page 3

“A PERFECT PEST TO SOCIETY.”

A SMART SENTENCE

An cldorly man named- Cornelius Tali appeared at the Auckland Supreme Cour on Monday to answer a charge of Jhefi-at Auckland of a number of articles of clothins etc., the property of Joseph Hannam. Ho was also charged with forging a document purporting to be an acknowledgementof the delivery ot goods, and with ns'in" this document as if it were genuine. Tho accused pleaded not guilty to each The evidenco was to the effect that Hannam and accused came from Inglewood to Auckland together. One sack containing accused's swag and two containing Hannam’s swag wero left in Hannam’s name at tho Auckland railway station. The next day accused got his sack, and on the following day someone r-ot delivery of Hannam s sacks,, that someone saying he had lost his ticket. Accused disposed of some of the artides in Hannam’s sacks to second-hand dealers. When arrested by Detective Hollis he travo a wrong name. , , , S Accused did not call evidenco, but addressed tho jury, stating that ho was accused of stoaling property that was P 'it“S,“’o””noa . vendict of guilty after a short retirement. Accused, asked if ho had anything to say, said drink caused him to commit the crime. His Honor said that was no excuse, and there was no evidenco of his being the worse for drink. He hardly knew what to do with the prisoner. Prisoner seemed to him to have spent most of his lifo in gaol. During tho last twenty-five years there -a twenty-six convictions ag&inst him. fir*'* case (theft from a dwelling) was me nrs- lyy-; an d it must have been as far back a- received ton years’ ima bad case, for o U risoner received prisonment. In ISbO . w jUagton for ten years’ imprisonment at . P . , t larceny, and ho had been con, Napier, Palmerstou, Eoeftou, Otaki, Masterton, Wanganui, and New Plymouth. Prisonor was a perfect pest to society—a man who lived by plunder wherever ho could. His Honor considered Hannam was very much to blame for being so stupid. Prisoner would be soncenecd to five years’ imprisonment.