MEN ADMIT 14 CHARGES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28180, 19 January 1957, Page 3

MEN ADMIT 14 CHARGES

IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, January 18.

Caught by the police on the premises of the South Canterbury Jockey Club in the early hours of December 30. just after they had used explosives to blow open the strongroom. Hugh Larry Kerr, aged 33, and William Robert Morrison, aged 23, described as agricultural contractors, both of 22 Clyde street, Dunedin, pleaded guilty to 14 charges in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court before Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., today. The charges included three of shop breaking, three of theft, seven of breaking and entering counting-houses, and one of being rogues and vagabonds. Detective-Sergeant J. A. Marshall prosecuted and Mr O. G. Steven appeared for both accused. Both accused were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on the charge of breaking and entering the offices of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, one year’s imprisonment on the charge of being rogues and vagabonds, two years on each of nine charges of breaking and entering, and three months on each charge of theft. The sentences were all concurrent. Detailing the offences DetectiveSergeant Marshall said that accused admitted obtaining a total of £2214 in cash since August 17, of which only £43 had been recovered. It was hardly credible that the two could have disposed of this amount in just over four months, but they claimed to have done so on motor vehicles, a rotary hoe, and by betting on races. Detective - Sergeant Marshall said accused claimed they were led to undertake this series of offences after observing that some earlier safeblowing offences committed in and around Dunedin had been profitable to those concerned. They had committed offences involving breaking, entering and theft in Timaru. Oamaru, Palmerston, and Dunedin.