A SERIES OF THEFTS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 137, 10 June 1916, Page 6

A SERIES OF THEFTS

A YOUNG MAN SENTENCED

''I did it because I was hungry and had no money," was the plea of, a young man, 24 years of age, named Roland Richard liiguett, who came up before Mx. Justice Hosking for sentence at the Supreme Court to-day. The accused had pleaded guilty at Masterton to three charges of breaking, entering, and theft at Carterton, Matarawa, and Waingawa. AX Carterton he stole cigarettes, magazines, and money from the bookstall at the railway station; at Matarawa an ovei-coat, and at ■• Waingawa he broke into the house of a man named Downes aiid"stdie""a" quantity' of food, some candles,, and % •Saucepan; " He then went off into the bush ami was apprehended while in,the act. of lighting-a .fire. Subsequently ' the accused admitted the series of offences.

In Court to-day he told his Honour that he had been a soldier at the Featherston Camp, and was willing to go back.

His Honour:'But they sent you away from ..the . camp,' as. being mentally and physically unfit, did they not?

- -Accused : Yes, Sir. ~ His Honour f "Had you no money? .Accused : No, Sir. His Honour: Did they not pay you any wages?

Accused : No; .they.took my pay-book awav. from me.

In reply to-further questions by his Honour, the accused said that he had for six years been employed as. a farm labourer in the Gisborne district, and for twelve months prior to enlisting he had worked for his father there, the latter being now to1 old: to carry' on"by'himself. He (accused) had-never been before a Magistrate before.

" His Honour said that accused seemed to have gone about the series of thefts in a determined way. He did not altogether, like .to .treat him-as a criminal, but as there had been more than one offence, probation could not be granted. In passing" senten'ce" of twelve months' reformative treatment; his Honour said that he would place-the case before the Prisons Board, which could, if it thought fit; set the prisoner at liberty before the expiration of the twelve months.