MAY BE DEPORTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 2

MAY BE DEPORTED

♦ 4*'. 'A ' Two Stewards Who Stole on Rangitane ■ ■ SENTENCE POSTPONED When Federick James, aged 28, ship’s steward, and Peter'John Frederick Ransom, aged 16, steward’s boy, appeared before Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, for sen-. tence on charges of theft on the Rangitane, the question of deportation was briefly discussed, and his Honour remanded both for sentence until this morning to enable the exact legal position to be ascertained. Describing the case as a foolish escapade that could not have ended in " other than trouble, Mr. P. Verschaffelt, who appeared for prisoners, said it was an unfortunate one. Both men had an unblemished record of service to their employers. It was true that when first questioned concerning the offences they had told lies, but that was because they were frightened. When they were taxed by the chief steward, however, they had ultimately admitted the offences. A good deal bad been made of thin case, added counsel, because a Scotland Yard detective had been travelling on the boat As far as be had been able to ascertain, however, this detective had not been required to take any part in the case. His Honour said the probation officer had suggested deportation. The acting-Crown prosecutor, Mr. C. Evans-Scott, said that if an order for deportation were made another boat could take them back to England, and would, take them. , ’ So as to afford counsel time to ascertain the exact legal position his Honour remanded prisoners until this morning. Maori’s Bad Record A warning that if he came before the court again he would possibly be declared an habitual criminal was given John Tahu Anaru, a Maori labourer, aged 26, when his Honour ordered that he be detained in prison for reformative purposes for a term not exceeding two years, on a charge of breaking, entering and theft at Napier. His Honour, after reading a letter from prisoner to the court, said prisoner gave as the reason for the offence that he had no work at the time. “It is rather late to suggest that in these days, because it seems you can either get work or sustenance," he said. Prisoner had rather a bad record for a young man of 26, but he now pleaded for another chance.. Forgery and Uttering A term of two years and a half reformative detention was imposed on Lionel John Lynch, clerk, aged 21, on a charge of forgery and uttering at Auckland. The term is to be served concurrently with sentences at present being served for false pretences and theft. It was stated that he had had several previous convictions. Assault With Intent to Rob Believed by his Honour to be the ringleader, John Valentir, Procter, labourer and showman, aged 3u, was sentenced to a term of reformative detention not exceeding two years, on a charge of assault with intent to rob at Gisborne. He was stated to have had several previous convictions. Arising out of the same set of circumstances, Frank Fitzwilliams, labourer, aged 45, on a similar charge, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. His Honour warned him that if he appeared before the court again it was likely that he would be declared an habitual criminal.