MAGISTRATES COURT Six Months Gaol On Arson Charge

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31871, 26 December 1968, Page 3

MAGISTRATES COURT Six Months Gaol On Arson Charge

Six months imprisonment was imposed on James Veevers, aged 60, a fettler (Mr A. P. C. Tipping), when he appeared for sentence before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of wilfully setting fire to a house in Maces Road, the property of 0. G. Clifford, on December 8. Veevers had virtually no criminal record and had an excellent work record, Mr Tipping said. There was noj apparent motive for his ac-l tion, but he had been under! the influence of drink at the I time.

Veevers could not explain why he should have felt the urge to light the fire. He submitted that a penalty short of imprisonment would be appropriate. The house had been vacant, virtually a derelict shell. The offence was a serious one, the Magistrate said. The Court must impose a deterrent penalty. Veevers had soaked rags in turpentine, placed them in a cylinder cupboard, and set fire to them, which had been likely to cause “a satisfactory blaze,” the Magistrate said. This was not the action of a man who was very drunk. BORSTAL Michael Edward Hall, aged 18, unemployed (Mr R. J. Allan), was sentenced to a period of Borstal training on nine charges of burglary and two charges of entering a building with intent to commit a crime. He was ordered to pay restitution of $74. He had previously pleaded guilty to all charges and was appearing for sentence. The Magistrate said he appreciated that Hall had personal problems, but because of the large number of serious offences the public had to be considered. BURGLARY CHARGES Three youths, aged 18 to 21, appeared for sentence on charges of burglary of Garretts Foodstore and Efsco Electrical Products, Ltd, both on December 11. All had previously pleaded guilty. Barry James Whear, aged 21. a council workman (Mr R. F. B. Perry), was fined S5O on each charge, sentenced to nine months periodic detention, admitted to one year’s probation, and ordered to nay 546.6 restitution. His brother, Victor David Whear, aged 18. an apprentice fitter (Mr P. M. Davies), was fined S5O on each charge, admitted to two years probation and ordered to nay 546.6 restitution. Glen Morris Barrow’, aged 18, unemployed (Mr K. N. Hampton), who also faced a charge of receiving and two charges of unlawful taking of a motor-cycle, was admitted to two years probation and ordered to pay restitution of 546.6. On the charges of unlawful taking he was disqualified from driving for one year. (Before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M.) DRUG CHARGE Neroli Susan Fairhall, aged 24, a social security beneficiary (Mr J. W. Dalmer), was remanded on bail to January 20 on a charge of having a narcotic, namely morphine sulphate, unlawfully in her possession on December 23. No plea was taken. FINED 8100 “You’ve got a job to do—-

t I’ve had too much to drink,” s Adrianus Gerardus Martinus r van Dorp, aged 38, a truck n driver, told the traffic officer t- who stopped him for driving under the influence of s drink or a drug on Sparks e Road on December 23. Van e Dorp pleaded guilty to the e charge and was convicted and j fined SlOO and disqualified ! from driving for three years. D | DRUNK 1 ■ John Doro, aged 22, a r labourer, pleaded guilty to a 3 , charge of being drunk in ■' (New Regent Street on Decem- [ | ber 23, having been convicted 8 of drunkenness three times in the last six months. He ’was convicted and fined $lO.