CRIME PUNISHED

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 13, 16 July 1934, Page 11

CRIME PUNISHED

PRISONERS SENTENCED

PECULIAR CASE OF ARSON

Ten prisoners were sentenced \>y his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) today for crimes of. ■breaking and entering, theft, arson, and a number of sexual offences.

Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for

the Crown,

Ronald Malcolm Cameron, a motordriver, for breaking, entering, and theft, was sentenced to reformative detention for a term of two years and six months. ; Two other.men who were accomplices in.the same offence had been sentenced previously by Mr. Justice Reed to three years'" reformative detention. "" . ■ • • •

In reply to the Chief Justice, Mr. Alacassey agreed that the others had been the 'principal offenders, Cameron having merely driven the car used in connection, with the crimes. Previous convictions against Cameron were of. a minor character. His Honour decided that there should be'soine slight discrimination between the prisoners. The goods stolen: had been restored.

Roia Paqi, a- labourer, and Hoivia Arahura, /also a labourer, on charges' of breaking, entering, and theft at Port Awanui, were' sentenced to two years' hard labour and two years' detention in a Borstal institute, respectively. Eoia had been convicted previously, and when •Jie was 17 had been granted probation, the terms of which he broke twice. The Probation Officer's report in both cases was unsatisfactory, and the offences were serious, said ' his Honour. ;

STRANGE ARSON CASE,

"I don't think for a moment you are a criminally-minded person, but at the same time your act was reckless and criminal," said his Honour in: referring to the case of Carl Oscar Andrea Fredricsoi), a 24-year-old grocer, who appeared for sentence for arson. ■

Mr. G. C. Kent, for the prisoner, said the case was one of those unfortunate ones of a man coming before the Court on a first charge and whoso character was exemplary. The crime had not been committed for-selfish purposes, nor to cover up another erinio:- ■From early youth the prisoner had had little chance in life. His father had died early, and he had been forced to leave'school from the fifth standard. He eventually obtained a position with a large grocery firm in Wellington, but was retrenched two and a half years ago. A woman who kept a boarding-house befriended Predrieson, regarding him as industrious and -honest/She1 wasr'not wealthy,' but decided to expend''£2so of her savings to set the young man in a grocery business. ' The business had proved unpayable, two previous proprietors having failed, and the young man was not sufficiently qualified. He committed the blunder of having ovorstocked, and ho became pressed, for debts. They were his own. debts and not those of his backer. It seemed to him that his helper was threatened with the loss of her capital, so he burned the store to restore her the money. Prisoner had instructed counsel; that he had learned a lesson that would last him. a lifetime. It was his first offence, and counsel asked that prisoner be given probation. ...: .

The Chief Justice: Prisoner at the Bar, I cannot sco my way to accede to that request, but I see my way to pass what I think a 1 lenient sentence, I don't, think for a moment you are a criminally-minded person, but your act was reckless and criminal—reckless q£ the rights, of other people, beeausc what you were doing was to' destroy the property of other people. It is easy to start a fire, but a difficult matter to put it out.' Arson is a serious offence, 'for- not only does it' destroy property,' but it is a danger to human life. Apparently, you had nothing to gain mercenarily, though- your object seems to have been to secure for a person who befriended you an immunity against loss. The offence cannot possibly be passed over. .-■■•■. : .

Sis months' reformative detention, was orderedi ■"• '•• '•-

OTHER, CASES.

Commenting that, the case was a pathetic one, considering the youth of prisoner, and expressing the hope that prisoner would see the error of his. ways, the Chief Justice sentcnced-David George Gordon Young; a '22-year-old farm hand, to two years', reformative detention for indecent -assault..

Arthur Edward Davis, a. farm labourer from -the Oliakuno. district, was sentenced, to three years' .hard-labour-for incest. Stanley , Wilson Davis and Albert Joffre Jisiyis were to three years' Borstal -detention for similar offences; ' . •

. A sentence of six: years'- hard labour, was imposed'; upon George William Thompson for incest. '

Ernest' Paul Crpmbie, for "whom Mr. R. Hardie-Boys appeared, was sentenced to nine -mouths'.hard labour, for carnal knowledge. .The ease , yrfts a peculiar. one in many respects, .§aid .Counsel, -who was concerned .as to his 'duty, in the matter. The. last, conviction against the prisoner had been for attempted suicide. That had been the prisoner's third attempt on his own life. When yet a child he, had attempted suicide by cutting his throat and attempted drowning. Tho prisoner was a good worker. The offence .could not, bo passed over, said his Honour, but at the same time he did not accept at its face value eyerything-that; appeared.on the depositions. Ho/did'>iot treat the'case as .a serious ono of its kind.' ■"*'• ' ;"'./ '.."', "-'