THE CHEVROLET GANG

Evening Star, Issue 19743, 19 December 1927, Page 4

THE CHEVROLET GANG

M'LEADER GETS FIVE YEARS DAMAGE ABOUT £B,OOO The Chevrolet gang, whose youthful members committed crimes of breaking, entering, and theft, converting motor cars to their own use, stealing postal packets, and arson, was effectually disbanded in the Supreme Court this morning, the leader, Allan Barnett, aged twenty-one, being sentenced to t five years’ reformative detention; William Henry Martin, aged twenty, to three years’- reformative detention; and Alexander Hodges, aged seventeen, to three years’ Borstal treatment. The other members of tbe gang were dealt with in the lower court some days ago. Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for Barnett, Mr A. C. Hanlon for Martin, and Mr 0. J. L. White for Hodges. Mr Irwin said there was very little that could be said on behalf of Barnett. The prisoner was only twenty-one, and up till a year or two ago appeared to have borne a good character. There were references from his employer and from a man who had known him since infancy, and both were greatly surprised to know he had drifted as ho had done. Some months ago Barnett fot out of work. His father thought e was not doing his best, and there was a disagreement, Barnett leaving home and living with some people at Mornington. His movements after that were not known to his parents. The latter realised that he had to be punished for his misdeeds, but they wanted it to be known that after he had undergone his punishment they would do what they could for him. Mr Hanlon, on behalf of Martin, said it was obvious that nothing could be said in extenuation of the offences. These young men had got off the rails, and started off on a career of crime of a more or less serious character. Everyone recognised that a term of reformative detention was inevitable, as that seemed to be their only chance of ever making good. Martin’s mother, who was a widow, recognised that ho had to be punished; but she had asked learned counsel to point out that the boy’s father had died when he was six years of age. For many years the mother had struggled along in bringing up and educating the prisoner and other children. By dint of perseverance and industry she had brought them up well, and had sent the accused to the High School, where ho did wxl. There were times when < the boy had gone from the house when sho thought lie was in bed. Accused had worked in the Customs House. Learned counsel pointed out in conclusion that accused realised he had to suffer, and that lack of parental control was not through inability of tho mother, but because he had no father.

On behalf of Hodges. Mr White said the boy was seventeen years of age and belonged to respectable people. He had worked at numerous places in town and country. It was alleged that Hodges was of lazy habits, but that was not borne out by testimonials which the Speaker would produce. “ These youths belong to what became known as the “Chevrolet Gang,” said the Crown Prosecutor (Mr F. B. 'Adams). One youth had been dealt with as a juvenile, and two others had Been dealt with in the lower court for converting motor cars. The speaker drew His Honor’s attention to the amount of the damage in connection with the charges of arson against Barnett and Martin. Mr Salmon, of the Fire Brigade, considered that the damage exceeded £B,OOO, while others put it down as about £6,000. These youths had done the community very serious damage. In regard to the breaking and entering of the crib at Company’s Bay, in which Barnett and Hodges were concerned, the place was ransacked, and kerosene was thrown on the blankets. It seemed clear that there was a thought of burning that place, too.- All of the three accused before the court had been dealt with in the lower court by being convicted and ordered" to come up for sentence when called upon. In addition to the thirteen charges facing him now, Barnett had been dealt with in the lower court on twelve charges of converting motors and three charges of breaking post boxes. Martin, In addition to the twelve charges_ now against him, had been dealt with in the lower court on six charges of converting motors and three of breaking post boxes. In the lower court Hodges was concerned in four charges of converting cars, and to-day had only one charge against him. “ I suggest that in the cases of Barnett and Martin,” continued Mr Adams, a lenient view can hardly be taken, because of the heavy damages and because of the extent and the variety of the crimes.”

In speaking of the Company’s Bayincident Mr White said that Barnett was under the influence of drink, and wanted to set fire to the place. It was due, however, to the intervention of Hodges that the place was not burnt. Hodges’s activity with the gang extended over a period of only four days, and in the circumstances learned counsel asked His Honor to be as lenient as possible. “In the cases of Barnett and Martin,” said His Honor Mr Justice Sira,” the probation officer does not recommend probation. 'They are certainly not cases for probation, and each accused will be ordered to undergo detention for reformative purposes for long terms. Barnett, I understand, is the ringleader of the party, and he will be ordered to undergo a term of reformative detention for five years. Martin will be ordered to be detained for three years. In the case of Hodges . the probation officer, with some Hesitation, recommends probation, but I do not think it is a suitable case for- probation. I think the proper course will be to send him to the Borstal Institute for a terra. He will be ordered to be detained in the Borstal Institute at Invercargill for & term of three years.”