BANK HOLD-UP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 287, 15 September 1933, Page 6

BANK HOLD-UP.

SENTENCE ON A YOUTH. FOUR YEARS IN BORSTAL, (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. years treatment in the Borstal Institute was .the sentence imposed by the Chief Justice to-day on William Mum MacDonald, aged 19, who caused a sensation at Palmerston North on August 11 by holding up a bank teller and who also appeared for sentence foi other offences at Palmerston North and Ma&terton. For. prisoner Mr O'Leary said it was realised that because of the seriousness of the offences probation or extreme leniency was out of the question, but he pointed out that MacDonald had always been highly strung and somewhat reckless in. spirit, and had an exaggerated idea of-his capabilities, with an intense desire to get away from New Zealand and adopt flying. His temperament was such as to lead him easily into the course he took—a career of dishonesty, culminating in the theatrical and hopeless actjon in the bank. His Honor commented on certain extraordinary features of the case and referred to the necessity of imposing a sentence which AvcuTd be a deterrent to other youths. It might be that prisoner's'conduct called rather for treatment in a different kind of institution, but there was no evidence to justify him in acting on that assumption. Prisoner would be kept under observation and the authorities would act as appeared necessary.