CRIME PUNISHED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 27, 1 February 1945, Page 6

CRIME PUNISHED

THEFT AND BUKGLARY

PRISON TERMS IMPOSED

Theft as a servant was admitted by two men employed by the same firm, Frank Edward Yates, aged 45 (Mr Aekins), ana James Russell, aged 43 (Mr. Thwaltes). who came before Mr. Justice Callan to-day for sentence. Goods to the value of over £69 had been stolen and sold, b rom counsel's statement in each case it was made clear to the Court that Yates had previous convictions, but had gone straight since 1939, while Russell, without previous convictions, had served overseas for three ye ffis Honor said the men had abused their trust as storemen in order to make money. The Court had decided not to differentiate between the two men. Each man was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour. Gordon Robert Edwards, a Maori, aged 29, who committed burglary and theft at Huntly, was also sentenced to 18 months' hard labour.

Burglary and Escape

Hard labour for 18 months was the sentence imposed on Clifford John Shortcliffe (30), who admitted having been implicated with Darcy Gordon Buckman (19) and Dennis Robert Cassidy (18) in a breaking and entering episode. Buckman was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour, and both he and Shortcliffe had three months added to their sentence for having escaped from custody. Cassidy was admitted, to probation for two years with a condition that he pay £15 costs by instalments of 15/ a week. Offence by Airman A reckless lapse into crime by a young airman who. had been disappointed by demotion from an air crew to the ground staff was the explanation given by Mr. Brainsby on behalf of Leonard Ralf Hale, who came before Mr. Justice Callan for sentence for breaking and entering jewellery establishments and theft of jewellery valued at over £450. Counsel pointed out that the prisoner's father was prepared to take him back on a large farm property he owned.

Remarking that the case was a distressing one, his Honor said the deliberate nature of the thefts could not be overlooked. Prisoner would be sentenced to nine months' hard labour.

Reynold Scobland Kennedy Spiers, an Army private with service in the Pacific to his credit, admitted the theft of a man's wallet containing cash. He was admitted to probation for three years, with conditions that he pay £110 at 30/ a week and that in the period of probation he refrain from drinking and gambling. Sexual Offences Two prisoners were sentenced to two years' hard labour by Mr. Justice Callan for sexual offences. They were Alfred John Geortz (45) and Charles Wilfred Robinson (32).