CRIME CONFESSED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 82, 6 April 1914, Page 6

CRIME CONFESSED.

USE OF KKEFE CONDEMNED. DISHONEST POSTAL OFFICIAL. A SACRED TRTJST. Fdvc prisoners who had pleaded guilty in the 'lower Court -were brought up f° r sentence at the Supreme Court this morning, before his Honor 'Mr Justice Cooper. FELL THROUGH BRINK. The lapse which brought a ilaori named Herewini Mifraik-a to the dock occurred on the DargaviHe-Helens-ville night boat. A passenger had about £30 when he went to sleep in the cabin. Upon waking up the discovered that the lot was nufising. Herewini, who was a fel-low-passenger, condoled with the unfortunate traveller. There were suspicions, however, and the Maori Tvas arrested in Auckland. The police sea Teh revealed the missing lucre hidden away in his cock.

Mr J. K. Lundon, who appeared for accused, said bis client waa 50 years of age, and 'had nine children. His lapse was apparently due to an over indulgence in drink. Restitution had been made, and in view of the fact that accused had previously 'borne a good character, and had never been in trouble, counsel asked for probation. His Honor, in granting the application, gaid the Probation Officer's report wae tfavonraWe, and recommended probation. Accused was placed on probation for 12 •months, .with two special conditions- —first that he pay £8 13/S costs within thi ionths, and take out a prohibition order against himself. His Honor remarked that it wae probable the offence would never have been committed if there had not been a good deal of drinking. A CHEERFUL CRIMINAL. Kurei, a youthful native wihose round face peered cheerfully over the top oi a very purple bow tie surrounding a very tight and very high collar, when addressed in the usual fommla as to whether he had anything to say why sentence of the court should not be passed, etc., asked in a hearty sort of way why he had been brought into that court.

When reminded that he had pleaded guilty at 'N'hakaiane to the theft of a •horse, ho showed his teeth and said "Ac," Then the judge referred to several instances in Kurei's past career which suggested that the youth had a. pretty pxtensive knowledge of court practice.

His Honor said prisoner's age was given at seventeen, b&t he was obviously more than that- Still he was very young, and it was a pity to see ham started ou a career of crime. He had already been convicted on five charges of theft. In view of his record prisoner -would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, and ordered to be detained for a further period, not exceeding three years, for the purposes of reformative treatment. As he left the dock poor Kurei's round face ibad retired perceptibly into the shelter of his expansive collar, and the three years brought a troubled look into his round brown eyes. EXPENSIVE IMMIGRANT. George John Burberry, collarless, a week's hirsute growth on his chin, and possessing a peculiar phrenological equipment, -was placed behind the spiked railing in connection with a little matter oi theft at Dargaville, self-oonfessed. in answer to the Court, Burberry admitted he -was a± present serving a sentence of three months on another charge of theft at Dargaville, and also admitted five previous convictions which were recorded at Greymouth, Hotorua, Wellington, Hamilton, and Kawakawa.

"I ehn.ll sentence you to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, and declare yon an habitual criminal," said his Honor. "You only arrived in. New Zealand a year ago, and you have been continually convicted of theft. It is quite clear tbat you are determined to continue in a career of crime if you are not placed under restraint." THE REPBEHEKSIBLE KXIFE. "There are a number of convictioni against you," said the judge addressing an elderly Swede called Harry Magnusson, against whom there were three charges of assanlt with intent to dc grievous bodily harm —one of the cases which arose out of the fenling between some of the members of the old water sidere union and the new union. "It may be," continued his Honor, "that you have in your mind some feeling in connection with not being able to get work on the wharf, but the method you adopted—using your knife on an officei of the union—ie not the way to veni your feelings. It appears that you de Überately used the knife. It is "a most serious charge and the maximum punishment w imprisonment for life. ] must in cases of this kind mark the Court's condemnation of the deliberate use of the knife. The use of a knife under the circumstances that appear ir this case is an offence that must b< punished. At the same time I shall not impose an excessively hard sentence The sentence of the court is that yoi be ordered to be imprisoned and kept t<; hard labour for the term of two years the sentences to run concurrently in. re spect of each offence." ABUSED HIS TRUST. Arthur Gordon Anderson, 17 years o age last November, was convicted on hi.< own plea of four charges of theft fron postal packets at Kawakawa, Bay o Islands. Mr Lundon, who appeared for the ac cused. in suggesting that the benefita o the First Offenders' Probation A 4 migk be extended to the accused, said the la< had been without the guidance of fatho: or mother for the past three years. An derson hod been in the public serrici for about three years. The astonishmj thing about the case was the absena of any motive for the thefts. His Honor said the motive wag t< acquire something that did not belonj to him. Anderson had opened a goot many letters and taken money from them The thing had been going on for ovei six mouths. Counsel said there was usually an in centive —being in a corner or developing expensive tastes—but these motives wen apparently missing. Wrth the firs money the lad bad got a tennis racquet which he afterwards sent back havinj apparently changed his mind, and he di< the same thine; with some goods he go from Smeeton's. His Honor pointed out that the la< hed pleaded guilty to fbnr charges. Ii his statement he admitted he had taken 1 good many postal notes in the past sb months. He was unable to say hoy many he bad taken. Explaining hi: method the accused said he opened tin letters, took out the postal notes am then posted the letters on, but some o them he destroyed. "It is a very seriem thing to tamper with the post.' , continnec the Judge. "No one can eauge the effec ! of destroying letters in this way. Somi

unfortunate woman may be expecting money from her husband, or some relative may be anxiously waiting to hear for news. Lives may be wrecked in this way."

Mr Lundon observed that the total amount taken would not amount to more than £5.

His Honor replied that the amount did not matter; it wan the circumstances. The accused was a young man in a peculiarly trusted position, and he had been interfering with His Majesty's mails. The probation officer had no recommendation to make—he left the matter to the Court to decide.

Mr Lundon suggested that the accused's brothers should be communicated with, as he understood some arrangement could be made to place the lad in a billet.

"This is an offence which in the interests of the public should not be treated lightly." observed his Honor. "Injury and suffering may be done by the crime of which this lad has been guilty. It is one of the most serious offences, this interference with letters by a postal official. Letters are supposed to be sacred. I have not yet decided what I shall do with the accused, and will remand him until May 25 so that in the meantime inquiries may be made from his relatives, and 1 will then decide what course I shall take. If. after these inquiries have been made. I can. consistently with the duty of the Court to the State, do anything to prevent this young man continuing on a career of crime, then I ought to do°it. but my duty to the State is parainonnt." . . The Hon. J. A. Tole (Crown prosecutor) mentioned that his Honor's attitude to such eases was exactly that of Mr Justice Kdwards His Honor: The jlldßea are agreed on the seriousness of the offence. There must be strong reasons before a, postal official who betrays his trust can escape punishment.