EXPLOSIVES SENT THROUGH POST

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27279, 20 February 1954, Page 8

EXPLOSIVES SENT THROUGH POST

LABOURER GIVEN TWO YEARS’ GAOL

“CALLOUS AND WICKED ACT ” (New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, February 19.

The maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment with hard labour was imposed on. Richard Stanley Wrattcn, a 32-year-old labourer, by Mr Justice Turner in the Timaru Supreme Court this morning when the prisoner appeared for sentence on a charge of causing a parcel of explosives to be sent by post from Wellington on February 2. A jury found Wratten guilty on Wednesday. He was acquitted on the first count of actually sending the parcel. “It was a callous and wicked act, sending explosives in an aeroplane in which passengers were travelling, and I have no hesitation in imposing the maximum penalty,” his Honour said. /‘li the section of the act covering this particular offence allowed a larger sentence I would undoubtedly impose it.” “When you last appeared in the Supreme Court you were warned you would be declared an habitual criminal. It appears that on this charge I do not have power to declare. However, I solemnly repeat the previous warning and this will be noted.”

Other Prisoners Sentenced Three other prisoners were dealt with as follows: —

Alan Frederick Coleman, aged 18, and Larry Frederick Voice, aged 19. were given two years’ probation for indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl at Timaru on January 2, 1954. In addition to the usual statutory terms two special conditions were stipulated: during their term of probation the youths will totally abstain from taking alcoholic liquor and they will not drive in a motor-car after 6 p.m. or be driven by a person under the age of 25 years. Silas James Ballard, aged 39, a Lyttelton watersider, was fined £5O for wilfully committing an indecent act so as to offend or insult a young Timaru man on January 2, 1954.