SERIES OF GRIMES

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 7

SERIES OF GRIMES

MAORIS SENTENCED.

"GUIDING HAND" GETS FIVE

YEARS.

BORSTAL TOR ACCOMPLICES.

OFFENCES AT DARGAVILLE,

"You have proved yourself a man of criminal instincts and a desperate Character," said Mr. Justice Smith to Peter Stewart, a Maori, aged 45, when sending, him from the Supreme Court dock this moraing to serve a term of five years' imprisonment. Sentences with hard labour, to be concurrent, were passed on Stewart as follows-.—For breaking and entering at Dargaville, two years; for arson, five years; for sheep stealing, one year; for counselling breaking and entering and theft, two years; for counselling arson, five years; and for receiving, two years.

"These sentences are concurrent, so you will serve in respect to your warlike operations a term of five years' hard) labour," added his Honor. "If you come before the Court again you will be declared an habitual criminal. The reason I do not declare you now is that I want to give you an opportunity to reform."

His Honor further remarked that sentences in the past nad apparently been no deterrent to Stewart. In reviewing the nature of prisoner's offences he recalled that Stewart, had broken and entered a carpenter's home, and had later wilfully set fire to it merely to cover his. tracks. "I suppose," his Honor added, "you- clearly understand that this 'State of New Zealand twill do ifs very "best to stamp out warlike operations like that."

James Toko, a gumdigger, aged IS, a Maori, was sentenced to two years' detention in a Borstal institution for breaking and entering and theft (twa charges), arson and sheep stealing. His Honor considered that while Toko had 'been influenced by threats by Stewart that he would use a knife on him, he required a period of discipline.

John Te Waake, another gumdigger (18), was sent to a Borstal institution for a similar period for breaking, enter-* ing and theft, and two charges of arson. His Honor said, that Te Waake was involved in breaking, and entering and theft and setting fire to a dwelling, and was possibly not in a position to.resist the influences of Stewart."

, Rebecca Stewart (22), who was said, by her counsel, Mr. Noble, to havq been under the domination of her husband, Peter Stewart, was admitted to three years' probation in respect to her crime of breaking, entering and theft at Dargaville.

Mr. V. N. Hubble said that together the four Maoris seemed to make a dangerous gang in the district where they resided', but Peter Stewart seemed to be the ring leader. The wife must have known of her husband's operations, however* and she/participated in at least one of his offences.

"You are certainly married to a man who appears to be of criminal instincts," said his Honor, in passing sentence. "This is apparently the first time you have been before' the Court, and the view I will take in admitting you to probation is that you were under the influence of your husband."