DETENTION FOR DANE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 7

DETENTION FOR DANE.

PUNISHMENT FOR BURGLARY PLEA FOB PROBATION FATLS. DISCOVERY OF TEN KEYS. Ten Yale keys were found in the room of a Danish kitchen hand, Herman Nondrop Madsen (24), who was sentenced by Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court to-day to two years'" reformative detention on a charge of breaking and entering and theft from Halle ostein's Buildings.

A plea for probation was made by Mr. Fawcett on tne prisoner's behalf. .Madsen had come to New Zealand 19 months ago, he said, and, after farming for a time, had secured a position in a city restaurant near the waterfront. There he came in contact with a man who was an habitual criminal, and was led astray. His was only a minor part in the crime. He had helped the other man to get to the top of a window to gain entrance to the building. Ail he received in return was 30/, although the value of the stolen goods was over £120. He was later asked to take part in another burglary, but refused to do so. Directly after, his arrest his employer had stated that*he was prepared to take him back. His Honor, in passing sentence,- said the value of the stolen property was £126 14/. The crime was carried out in conjunction with a man who hacyta long criminal record in Australia. It was quite evident that Madsen deliberately assisted in the burglary. He had known the other man for six or seven months. When he was arrested, ten Yale keys were found in his room.' It might be that he was innocent of anv other criminal act, but the crime of house breaking was so prevalent at the present time that it was the duty of the Court to impose a penalty. If the prisoner's conduct was eatisfae* tory the Prisons Board might liberate him within the two years.