GAOL FOR TWO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 8

GAOL FOR TWO.

GANG SENTENCED.

FIVE YOUNG MEN.

AUCKLAND CRIME SERIES.

THREE GRANTED PROBATION".

A "ail£ of five young men, whose ages ranged from 18 to 24, and who had been involved in a series of burglaries about Auckland, were sentenced in the Supreme Court this morning by Mr. Justice Fair. Included in a long list of offences, was the burglary of the Kiimeu post office, where a safe was taken away and opened, the building afterwards taking fire, and the assaulting of a nightwatchman at Tattersfield's factory, ilis Honor sentenced one man, whom he described as the ringleader, to 12 months' reformative detention, and imposed a similar sentence 011 another, between whom and the ringleader, His Honor could not sec any real difference. The other three were granted two years' probation. The accused were Edward Victor Tomlin and Archibald Karley Burroughes, who were sentenced to reformative detention, and Norman Stanley Tomlin, Keith I'ercival Sly and Alfred William White. The Tomlin brothers and Burroughs were represented by Mr. Hall Skelton, who said that during his 25 years' experience at the Bar lie had not come across a case which presented the perplexities that this one did. The parents of the accused were well known and respected. Everybody in the district was staggered by what these young men did, and their employers spoke highly of them. It was difficult in these times to understand youthful minds which rail to a series of mad escapades of a serious nature. Counsel said that his experience where leniency was granted to youths was that they did not offend again. He fully realised the seriousness of the offences, but the total gain was only £20.

His Honor: The amount of damage (lone was much more. Counsel said that the case read like the blood and thunder stories from America which were permitted to come into the country. Plea for Another Chance. "I do believe that if these boys are given a chance they will not offend again. Though tliey richly deserve gaol it they arc sent there they will mix with hardened criminals." His Honor replied that that matter had been mentioned several times lately, but prisoners who were sent to reformative detention were kept separate. Mr. Hall Skelton: I find that though that appears, to be so, they get in touch with men more experienced in crime. His Honor: No doubt in some cases men who are hardened criminals are sent to reformative detention. Counsel then pointed out that the younger Tomliu (Norman) was not concerned in the more serious crimes. His Honor: He took part in, stealing telephone boxes. A plea, for Sly was then made by Mr. North. Counsel said that Sly had cut j adrift from the others m December last and was not concerned in the escapades since then. He had been under the. domination of the elder Tomlin. For the other prisoner (White) Mr. Jenkins said that he had only been involved in three offences since October last. He was maintaining his three-year-old child and got mixed up with Sly and Edward Tomlin in a burglary at Hamilton, and later on at Auckland, including the Kuineu break. When lie obtained work White had given up his association with the other men.

Ringleadei s Responsibility. His Honor said that Edward Tomlin was the strongest factor in the gang. He was about 21 years of age, but youth even at that age must accept responsibility. There was a series of crime extending over twelve months, deliberately planned. The stj'le of the crfmes reminded him of those suggested by the reading of detective stories and by pictures. Some of the crimes were deliberate and were not committed from a sense of adventure, but by men whose desire was to fill their pockets. In stealing the telephone boxes the sole purpose was to obtain the money in them, property to the value "of £100 was destroyed and about £4 or £5 obtained. As they progressed in the career of crime the accused seemed to have got bolder and the crimes more serious. There was the post office burglary and the fire afterwards. They continued on the career of crime knowing that the post office had caught fire. In his opinion Edward Tomlin was probably the ringleader. In his case probation was out of the question. His offences j weie brazen and coolly carried out. He 1 would bo sentenced to twelve months'! reformative detention.

His brother's case is rather different. s j.i " 0t actua % take P al 't in some of the crimes," said his Honor, in admitting lum to two years' probation. "No Difference Between Them."

Burroughs seems to have associated himself wit], everything that Edward Joiiilm did, and I see no difference between them,' said his Honor in sentencing him to 12 months' reformative detention.

Sly, who was concerned with the iattersfield burglary and fifteen others, including the Kumcu post office, was admitted to two years' probation instead of sending him to a Borstal institution, as he had considered doiii?. His Honor said he took this course because sly would be in employment with a person who would look after him.

White had been concerned iu only tliiee offences, though they were serious. He had looked after his child and in the past had been a good citizen. He, too. would be released on two years'' probation.