THEFTS FROM FARMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 November 1924, Page 7

THEFTS FROM FARMS.

HAWERA YOUTHS SENTENCED. THREE; YEARS’ PROBATION. That the crimes of theft committed by Leo and Frank Whiting (referred to on page 5) would be best met by a. sentence of three years’ probation. was the decision of Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., delivered at the Havrera. Magistrate’s Court this afternoon. Tim Magistrate, in passing sentence, said he found it very easy in,liis own mind to criticise adversely any decision he might arrive at. He ‘found it easy to criticise the idea of probation or the ordering of the youths to come up for sentence when called upon, as the crimes were not- without impulse. Two brothers were concerned in them, and there had been consent to crime, pre-arrangement, and planning, between them." This was a,-difficulty in the way of showing leniency. However, there was an element- that was hard to explain, aiid that was that from tlie. nature of some of the goods stolen it looked like a motiveless crime that might be related to some abnormal condition of tlie mind. There were two forms of punishment that could be used, and they were the infliction of a fine or imprisonment. A fine was utterly illogical, as a paltry £lO in a. case where goods to the value of over £SO had been stolen would only be an encouragement to others to embark on similar doing'*. He was of tlie opinion that it was a case for imprisonment, but rather than make the mistake of being too severe lie would prefer to err on the side .of leniency. The youths were known in the district; they were sons supporting a widowed mother, and they had been left without a father at an impressionable acre Also, when interviewed by the police there had been an absence of untruthfulness. Accused, said t,lje Magistrate, would be sentenced to three years’ probation, and within two months must pay back the sum of £6 9s. being the value of the poods which were unrecoverable. They must also pay the expenses of the police to the extent of £3 each.