FOR SENTENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 6

FOR SENTENCE.

PRISONERS COME BEFORE JUDGE. PENALTY OF CRIMES.

A number of prisoners, some of whom had Btood 'trial in the Supreme Court/ others having pleaded guilty in the Lower Court, came up for sentence before his Honour Mr Justice Adams in the Supreme Court yesterday morning. Housebreaking and Theft. The idea seemed unfortunately to.be growing in Christchurch and throughout the Dominion that young people were able to commit at least one crime and escape with probation. It was regretted that such was the case, but there was too much reason to believe that it was only too true.—The foregoing remarks were made by his Honour concerning John Harold Halliday, who was charged with the theft of postal packets (two charges) and housebreaking and theft (two charges). The Acting Crown Prosecutor stated that the case was one in which a young man of 18 years was charged with offences similar to those in respect of which a number of other youthful prisoners were charged. He had been in trouble before, and a period of disciplinary control was needed to act as a deterrent, so as to quell similar outbreaks among the younger people of the community in crimes of this nature. Halliday was committed to the Borstal Institute for three years on each charge, the sentencos to be concurrent. Safe-Blower Sentenced. A sentence of five years' imprisonment was imposed On Robert Cockburn, who was also declared to be an habitual criminal. In the Lower Court lie had pleaded guilty to six charges of breaking and entering; five charges of burglary; one of attempted burglary; oße of breaking, entering, and theft; and one.of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime.

His Honour said that the prisoner had pleaded guilty to eleven charges of breaking and entering, two of breaking* entering, and theft, and one of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. "X have nothing to say," replied prisoner when asked if he thought there was any reason why the sentence of the "Court* should not be passed on him.

His Honour said that prisoner came to New Zealand in August, 1926, and went to work in the coal mines on the West Coast until late last year, when he gave it up. That same night he bjqke into the office of the Dobson coal mine. He broke into three shops in Greymouth, all within a few miles of the place at which he had been employed, subsequently' coming to Christchurch, where he committed offences to which he had pleaded guilty. He then went on to Dunedin, in that city .having, a short but: rapid career of crime of the same class as those committed on the West Coast and in Christchurch. TTif work showed that he-was an expert safebreaker and thief, his record being one of unusual skill and activity in that particular class of crime. It was his Honour's duty, therefore, to deal with Cockburn in an exemplary way. Prisoner would be sentenced to five years' imprisonment on each charge of breaking and entering, to one year on each charge of breaking and entering with intent, and to one year on the charge of attempting to break and enter. The sentences would be concurrent.

Remanded Till Tuesday. Expectations of £7OOO on attaining the age of 21, was the principal reason ascribed for the downfall of William lan McKay, aged 18, who had pleaded guilty to three charges of breaking and entering and theft, and one of theft. Mr M. J. Gresson, who appeared for the prisoner, - said that the youth had come from a good home, and had been brought up by his grandmother, his father having been killed in the Great War. He had attended I a denominational secondary school, and later the Christchurch Technical College. Owing to his expectations from his father's estate he did not take too kindly to work. The Public Trustee, as administrator ,of the estate, had allowed the youth to take employment at a fish shop at a weekly wage of £L The report of the Probation Officer was before counsel, but he thought it would be a mistake to follow it as PoliceSergeant Almond, in whose district the youth lived, stated that up to the present he had been respectable. Counsel thought that if McKay were sent to , the Borstal Institute it might mean disaster for him, as he was now at the turning of the ways, as it were. If admitted to probation he might pull up and develop into a good citizen. Complete restitution had been made, and the youth's employer was prepared to take him back to his shop. The Aoting-Crown Prosecutor (Mr A. W. Brown) said that McKay had stolen sums of money from his employer over a period of six months and had discussed the details of his crimes with his mate on numerous occasions.-

With regard to Elwyn Henderson, McKay's accomplice in the crimes, Mr A. J. Malley ,said that the case was different from the previous ohe. Henderson was one of a family of 14, his mother being a widow, to whom he had given his wages, amounting to £1 a week. His employer had found him generally to be an upright youth. Henderson, like other youths about his own age, was fond of attending dances, and picture entertainments, for which purposes he had stolen from his employer. Counsel asked that probation be granted.

' Both prisoners were remanded in custody to appear on Tuesday for sentence. An Old Offender. | 'This man is an old offendor with a fairly long list," said the Acting-Crown Prosecutor (Mr A. W. Brown) of William Charles Lidgett, who had pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to two charges of breaking and entering and theft. | His Honour sentenced the prisoner to two years' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Sent to Borstal. Leo Peter Kellec was sentenced to three years' detention in the Borstal! Institute on six charges of breaking, entering, and theft. Oornmon Assault. Alfred Saunders Webster (Mr F. D. Sargent) was sentenced to four months' imprisonment from the date of being taken in custody on a charge of "common assault on a female. On a similar charge, George Gilpin Pickens (Mr A. Hobbs) was sentenced to three months' imprisonment from the date of being taken into custody.