COURTS AND OFFENCES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 August 1926, Page 5

COURTS AND OFFENCES

SENTENCES AT WELLINGTON. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. At the Supreme Court, the undermentioned prisoners were sentenced: David Parkinson, a. labourer, (18) for housebreaking at Petone, six charges and an attempt to break-in by day, was sentenced to two years’ treatment at--the Borstal Institution. David Cameron Stewart, a grocer, (28) for breaking, entering and theft (ten charges) was sentenced to four years’ hard labour. George Alexander Robert Irvine, labourer, (2f>), for forging and attempted uttering, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

CHARGE. AG AINST. A GIRL.

AUCKLAND, Aug. 27. A giid aged 18 years, after being discharged from the Auckland Hospital this morning, appeared'in the Police Court to answer charges of manslaughter p*f her newly-born child and the concealment of birth. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, ordered the accused’s name to be suppressed in the meantime and remanded her until next Friday, when the charges; will he heard in conjunction with the inquest on the death of the child. HEAVY FINE INFLICTED. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 27. James Callahan, who was found guilty of a charge of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 at Vairio in June last, appeared for sentence in the Supreme Court to-day. Mr. Justice Sim, in passing sentence, said that the prisoner did not deserve much consideration and instead of going l into the box and giving evidence, he should have pleaded guilty. In view of the fact that the jury did not find the prisoner guilty of the- more .serious offence of attempted carnal knowledge, with which he was also l charged, His Honour said lie would take a more lenient view of the matter and inflict a, fine of £3O.

“THE SILENT FIVE.” DANNEVIRKE. Aug. 27. The doing of a band of boys, whom the police stated were known as “the silent five,” were investigated at the Police Court to-day before Mr. J. L. Hewitt. S.M. The cases disclosed rather .a startling .state of crime on a. wholesale scale.

The youths concerned in the crimes attributed to the “silent five” were Reginald Ramey, who, on a charge of theft, was remanded till the next sitting 'for inquiries to> be. made concerning him. Edward Powell Nicholas, who had nine charges preferred against him. Two of these were of theft, two of attempted breaking and entering, and five of breaking, entering, and theft three times in one place. William John Steel, was charged with attempted breaking, and entering, twice with, breaking, entering and theft John Edward Phillips, were of theft and three of breaking, entering and theft. Those against Harold Sydney Chandler were two charges of breaking, entering and theft, charges of attempted breaking and entering being withd liawn.

All.the accused were committed to the Borstal, Institution to bo detained for a period; not exceeding three years, the magistrate considering this was the best course to adopt in the interests of the community and of the accused themselves. liv addition to the foregoing, Garth Francis Durrant, another youth, oil four charges of theft, one of which he admitted, was also committed for three years’ detention in* a Borstal Institution, while a, Maori lad, Wiremu Porora, on four charges of breaking and entering and 1 theft at Kiritaki, was ordered to be handed over to* the education authorities, he having previously been an inmate of a. receiving home under the Education Department.