COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1935, Page 5

COURT NEWS

AUCKLAND BURGLARS. (Per Press Association). Al< KI-A ND. May 27. A statement that so long as hr was on ‘.lip Bencli he intended to deal severely with men who committed burglary and carried loaded weapons, was made by Mr .histice Reed at the Supreme Court when sentencing Henry Lewis Brennan on th ret* charges of breaking and entering. His Honour /said that New Zealand was not going to have the conditions which sometimes existed in Australia, where burglars carried arms. Brennan had pleaded guilty to breaking into two private houses in daylight and one at night. On one of the occasions he was accompanied by William Houston, who also admitted the offence. Mr McVeagli. for Brennan, said he had experienced dilliculty in obtaining employment. His H'lnmir: ‘‘Whir 'makes the otfeiices most serious is that on one occasion lit* stole a. revolver and ammunition. That is bad enough, but what i< still more serious is that he admits currying the revolver fully’ loaded into the next place he broke into. ’' His Honour said hat counsel had advanced all that could be possibly <;r<l for Brennan. Although he had not been previously convicted on any serious offence. those which he had now admitted were sufficiently sei ions tc preclude leniency. He sentenced prisoner to three years’ hard labour on the burglary charge at Remuera. and IS month''’ hard labour on the other charges, the sentences to be concurrent. Houston was sentenced to eighteen months’ hard labour, to be followed by six months' reformative detention. FALSE PRETENCES.

OFFENCES ON WE|ST COAST. CHRISTCHURCH, May 28. In the Christchurch Police Court; to day, Albert Naisbitt, 22 years mechanic, faced two charges of false pretences, one of obtaining credit by fraud,. and one of failing to comply’ with the terms of release on probation. Accused was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for the fraud, and one month imprisonment, for the breach of probation, the terms ito be' cumulative. The fraud offences had been conimitted at Greymouth and Hokitika, where he obtained board and lodgings by false pretences. PROBATION GRANTED. WANGANUI,. May 28. At the Supreme County Keith Francis* Joseph Sission, and Donald Keith Derbridge, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at Gretna Hotel. Taihape. They were admitted 'to probation to two years, and ordered to pay’ the costs of the £7 13s 9d. BURGLARY CHARGE. HASTINGS, May 28. Two young men, James Tait (25) and Ronald Scott Barker (22), appeared at the Hastings Police Court, this morning, charged with breaking and entering ;v shop and stealing two shot-guns, a rifle, a quantity of amand a suitcases to the total value of £24 15s. Both were remanded for a week. Suspicion fell on the men ithrough the police having obtained a motor car, which on the night of the burglary was* left standing with its engine running near the shop. When the policeman on the beat approached, the car was driven away, but its number was taken. GAOL FOR CAR CONVERTERS. WELLINGTON. May 28. Three months’ hard labour was imposed by' Mr Mosley, S.M., on George Michaliclv 23, and John Colston., 25. for converting a car 'to their own use. The car was taken from Wellington and recovered in possession of the accused undamaged at Levin. Both men had previously’ been in trouble. GISBORNE, May 28. The Supreme Court opened this morning. with a brief list of business, there being only one criminal case, one Court action listed for trial. In the former, after the Grand Jury returned a true bill, the prisoner pleaded guilty. Air. Justice Blair congratulated the district on the almost complete absence of crime.