DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1941, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BREAKING AND ENTERING. WELLINGTON, February 18. “When a man of 26 associates with boys of 19 and 17, unless he is a perfect half-wit or subnormal in some way, the irresistible inference is that he is the ringleader,” said Mr. Justice Ostler, in sentencing Stanley Clive Bernasconi, 26, motor mechanic, to reformative detention, on a charge of breaking and entering and theft. A 19-years-old boy was sent to Borstal, and a 17-years-old boy was dealt with in the Children’s Court.

NEGLIGENCE CAUSES DEATHS. CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. “This is a bad case of negligently driving a motor-car, and by your conduct you have caused the deaths of two young women,” said Mr Justice Northcroft, in the Supreme Court to-day, in sentencing .Arthur Percy Ford, alias Ivory, to six months haid labour. In addition, his drivers license was cancelled. Ford appeared for sentence in connection with a charge of negligently driving a motor-car, thereby causing the deaths of two young women.

LAURENTINE INQUEST WELLINGTON, February 17. The adjourned inquest on the death of Francis Norman Laurentine, water-side-worker, 36, was concluded today. The Coroner, Mr. W. G. L. Mellish, found that Laurentine died in Wellington Hospital on November 2 of haemorrhage, resulting from wounds, accidentally inflicted by Jean Laurentine. The inquest was formally opened in November. Hira Robroy Avery, van driver, and Detective P. C. Smeaton gave evidence concerning events as the result of which Mrs. Laurentine was charged with, and acquitted oi, the murder of her husband.

FLOGGING SENTENCES. WELLINGTON, February 17

The question had not yet been considered by the Government, said the Attorney-General (Mr. Mason) today, when asked what action, if any, the Government, which is opposed to corporal punishment, proposed to take in connection with the sentence of flogging imposed on prison escapees at Auckland.

Mr. Mason recalled that in a previous case in which flogging had been ordered, sentence had been remitted on appeal, and said that, in view of this, it would not be proper to comment on any portion of the sentence imposed while it was not clear whether or not an appeal mignt be made hi this instance.

CADETS FOR DUNTROON. WELLINGTON, February 17. The following New Zealand cadets have been selected to attend a three years’ course at Duntroon to qualify as officers in the New Zealand Militaxy Forces: — Bruce Allen Andrews (Auckland), Horatio Archibald Colquhoun (Wellington), Ronald Douglas Patrick Hassett (Wellington), Colin Bonar Allen Jamison (Christchurch). Cecil Coles Jordan (Tauranga), Selwyn Russell Lewis (Rotorua), Ronald Charles McKay (Waipawa), Joseph Wallace Sternberg (Wellington), Jack Rose Warrington (Hamilton), ‘Leslie Watson Wright (Napier). They have completed a 12-days’ course at the Army School at Trentham.

TSLANDER FINED. WELLINGTON, -February 17. Pleading for leniency to be extended towards a Niue Islander, Curly Tulino, a labourer, who pleaded guilty to a charge of causing an indecent document to be sent through the post, Mr. N. T. Gillespie, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, referred to the different moral standards of native races, standards, he said, which Europeans at times failed to appreciate.

Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan said the wife of another Niue Islander received through the post a letter .addressed to her husband, written by Tulipo, and had to pay 4d postage on it. She found it contained an hide cent sketch accompanied by indecent writing. Detective McLennan handed the letter to the Court. A fine of £3 was imposed.

DRUNKEN DRIVERS. AUCKLAND, February 17. Three drunken drivers were dealt with by Mr. J. Morling, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Albert James Clark, 28‘, a labourer, for his third offence, was sentenced to imprisonment for 14 days, and disqualified from obtaining a licence for three years. Donald John McLeod, a truck driver, who admitted he was riding a motor-cycle when intoxicated, was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. His licence was cancelled for 12 months.

Ah Sid 4 Jore Ping, said to be the first Chinese ever so charged, whose counsel said Ping had been celebrating the Chinese Christmas, was fined £l5 and his licence was cancelled for 12 'months.