PENALTY OF CRIME

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11451, 27 February 1931, Page 2

PENALTY OF CRIME

PRISONERS SENTENCEDBefore His Honor Mr. Justice McGregor, a number of prisoners came dp'vfor*.-h isenfeifcc at the Supremo Court yesterday, the crimes being committed "in-' places .as far ♦apart as Wairoa, Opotiki and the Coast.

STOLEN MOTOR CYCLE

NINE MONTHS’ FOR THEFT

Clifford Seddon Drummond appeared for sentence, after. .. having bebli .found guilty of the Tlieft of a motor-cycle. A , ' l Mr, Rf B.' Hill, for prisbnbr, said lie was. only a lad but, unfortunately |or himself/had previously been convicted of'theft and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. ' The present offence was, coupsol claimed, not a very serious one. Prisoner was a motor mechanic Jipd .‘had. taken a motor-cycle and attempted to sell it. He liad had;; the motor-cycle in his possession previous to selling it, and perhaps lie thought he had a right to take it. The machine had beoii lying at H.S. Motors , for amonth and no one could sell it. It was a ease of temptation, and counsel appealed to His Honor to grant probation. ' His Honor said that, if it was prisoner’s first. offence,, lie .would have granted probation. 'Unfortunately, prisoner had beeii couvicted in Wellington on two cluirgo.s of theft, and had been sentenced to three mouths’ imprisonment' with-:hard labor; and cif obtaining credit, by means of fraud, his sentence being concurrent with the others.'’ He then came to Gisborne. The Probation Officer’s report uvas unfavorable. Prisoner would be sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

SERIOUS OFFENCE . MAORI’S NATIONALITY GAINS LIGHTER SENTENCE. A Maori youth named Sydney Christie came up for sentence on a charge ol carnal knowledge, the crime occurring at lokoiuuru Lay. ' Mr. R. B. Hill pleaded for leniency lor accused, basing his plea on the fact that the Maori psychology was different from that of tho pakeha The /Maori lived under .dilßcnent sleeping conditions to tho pakeha, and, in sonic cases, said counsel, did not understand the white mail’s view of morality. ;He anpealod lo His Honor to take a lenient view. Mr. Nolan said the prisoner was a married man well-known in loluga Buy and Tokomaru Bay. He was an abstainer and The police knew nothing against him. His Honor said probation could not he granted for such an offence, fu view of the prisoner’s nationality, lie would impose a lighter sentence than lie had intended. Prisoner would be sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

PRISONER MISSING. TO BE SENTENCED AT DUNEDIN. ■ A somewhat unusual position arose when it was stated that a jirisbuer for sentence. John Joseph Plasto, who had pleaded guilty to making a false declaration of marriage, was not present. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. I. ,v. ( Nolan) said the prisoner had gone to Invercargill, and‘ had wired to tho Minister stating that he was there and could not get hack. He would report regularly to the police. His Honor: Is lib out on bail P .Mr Nolan: Yes, Your Holier, on bis personal recognisance. He could be arrested. Mr. Hill received the telegram the day before the session, Mr. Hill corroborated this statement. On receiving th e telegram he rang up tlie police and saw the Crown Prosecutor. He (Mr. Ilill) had wired prisoner to report to the police. He said he had reported every day in Dunedin, and was willing to be sentenced in Dunedin. Mr. Nolan suggested that accused -jould be arrested in Invercargill, and the papers could be forwarded to Dunedin, where accused could he sentenced. The only other alternative would be to bring him back to Gisborne, which would mean considerable expense and would mean keeping him here lor three months. His Honor ordered accused to bo arrested and sent to Dunedin lor sentence, the official file's being sent there.

WAIROA QUAKE LOOTER CAUGHT.

SIX MONTHS’ GAOL

Keith Gaffey appeared for sentence •ui a charge of breaking, entering and (.heft at Wairoa. .on February 6. Mr. L. T. .Buriiard said the case at first sight presented a serious aspect, • for the crime ’was committed in a time of stress, ft was after the earthquake in Wairoa ■ and . one of the prisoners comrades had been frilled. Prisoner was quite unused to drink, but took some on this- occasion and became intoxicated, winch led to the committal of the offence. Prisoner was a married man, and previous to the present proceedings, was respectable. The family was- a very respectable one indeed. Roland George Gaffey, father of the m-i son or,, said lie had resided in Gisborne, but three years ago went to Australia with his family and _returned' in March. Since that tiine'Tlis son had been working on the East Coast railway. IDs son was a good boy, one of the best, and Witness had never had any trouble with him. He was married about three months ago. tie was not used to drink. He could not stand any drink. : „ The Crown Prosecutor (Mr.. F. W, Nolan) said the. prisoner had. always hernu a good character. He bad never been in trouble belore aiid was a good worker. ' . ' • His Honor said : it was an unusual case. Accused , had gone to a shop, wrecked by the earthquake, and stolen goods to the value of'.£34 10s. Jim sergeant of police snvt him' arid, asked him" if lie had broken into the;. shop, but lie stiid lie had only been in the billiard room. Tie dropped three m x.ors and later other goods were found Looting after the earthquake has a serious offence, but it was not. a case where probation 'Vculd be granted. Accused would be Sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

TWO YOUTHS’ BAD START

breaking, entering and k THEFT.

Wilfred Llovd . Butteyi 11 and Erie Laurence Brown, who had 'pleaded guilty to breaking, entering bud theft, jnade their appearance; ■ ■ Mr. D. Ties said the pri'soniifs Yaffle to Gisborne from , Hawke’s Bajp to look for work, and’became intoxicated here. On th e .night in question,’ Brown left Butter ill hind entered the premises. Both the '.prisoners hjiad been-in racing stables,: 'Where- thej; had, had’ to 'Carry'.ofily; light-weights,: When that period .was .over tbev-were thrown on the Tabor) market. BrpWff especially, as could he seen,- veaS' Ot poor physique. ' They, had promptly admitted the crime) to the ponce. Counsel pleaded for probation... \.. The Crown Troseeutor, said Brown was 24 years of. rigo,’ was a- good worker. but. addicted' to. drink- and- when ' under the.,influence of ‘liquor the -police described nun..a hoodlum. , Buttefill; was;o9 ' yqiii's old and had also-been a stable liaruL He:.worked at. Taradale.:. He was-Metf scribed bv the police as.'.;) laxy young waster who did rio work. '' „ : His . Honor said / the Probation ■ OK ficer did not, recommend probation. .Brown wonhfebe sentence , v mMmxm

months’ imprisonment, and Butterill could be detained In a.. Borstal in-' stitutipii' for two.y.parsl '■" ?:;/ , , PROBATION AND EESTI- - TUTION. .■ ; Til,

MAORI T’O COME UP FOR SENTENCE IF CALLED UPON;

Having, ploadod guilty to forgery and uttering at Tolaga Bay, Reggie Beach came up, for- sentence. }■■■'•.■ Air. Burnard, instructed by Ales-, srs. Brds'liaKan I. ail'd BeaufojbT said that the prisoner was half-caste- of an industrious • nature. HoKcbmmitted the act suddenly, forging a cheque in Jiis -father’s name." Tlen-was quickly brought' to book. ,While 'in gaol lie- asked for work, a most unusual thing, and behaved in an exemplary manner. The respectability of his'parents and his previous* life might entitle lain to probation. It Was an act of. felly lie had committed, but previous to;that he had borno a good character. ’ - • ■ . 4 * >•' The Crown 'ProsecUibi- said: all tho money had been refunded with the* exception of £1 19s 4d, lost by the’ shop proprietor, Airs. SheatorF wlio cashed tho cheque. ' His Honor said prisoner would.be ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years, and would be ordered to pay £5 Is 6d, tho costs of the preseeution, and refund £1 - 19s 4d to Airs. Slieater.

OPOTIKI GANG CLEANED UP

SUBSTANTIAL GAOL FOR leaders,,.

An Opotiki gang was cleaned up, When three of the Alaori ringleaders appeared for sentence, alter pleading guilty to charges of breaking, entering and tlieft. ' . Air. L. T. Burnard said/that in each case the accused admitted the offences, and attributed tlieir crimes largely to drink. .’ Tlip first two to appear wel-e Ruka Taugira and John Belmont, The Crown Prosecutor (Mi*. F. AY: Nolan) said the police reports were not- favorable. Both were convicteo thieves. They were described by tnc police as being members of a gang of thieves at Opotiki, aiid they were largely responsible for leading astray both Maori and pakeha youth's. His Honor said it was a bad case of impudent (theft, anil .sentenced each prisoner to 114 months’ imprisonment. ' John Belmont then appeared m company with Alutu Kerikeri. The Crown Prosecutor said Iverikeri was also a convicted thief and a member of tlie _ same gang. His Honor said this was a ease of :i similar bad type. Belmont would be sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, concurrent with liis previous sentence, and Kerikeri to' 18 months’ imprisonment. . ■7 ' A