"A GREAT DESPERADO"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 13

"A GREAT DESPERADO"

YOUTH'S DAY-DREAMS

"Although he went to lectures on criminology, uiitil the present offences there does not appear to have been any attempt on his jiart to express his personality in this form," said Mr. W. E. Leicester in the Supreme Court yesterday on behalf of Clarence Edward Ducker, a yo'jth, who appeared for sentence on charges of breaking and entering and theft, aud breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime.

Courirel said that the two doctors who had examined the prisoner held views which went to show that it was in his best interests that he should have some form of. reformative treatment. They were of the opinion that he was inclined to regard himself as a great desperado, and that he had been to a certain extent day-dreaming. He had been regarded by his employers as one of the most skilful draughtsmen of' his age. His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers): "Well; in his present tendencies are encouraged, that may be a danger." Counsel. agreed, but said that there was a chance that after the youth was re» leased he might become a good civil engineer. There were features about the case which, made it seem that' with reasonable treatment he would reform. The prisoner was sentenced to deten•jjon in a Borstal institution for a term tS not more than three years. , His Honour told him that the period of detention depended entirely upon his conduct while in the institution.