SERIOUS CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 221, 16 August 1927, Page 10

SERIOUS CHARGES

ARSON,. THEFT AND TRAIN DERAILING. YOUTHS’ BAD BREAK. The hearing of the series of charges against the two young men whose names were suppressed was continued at the Police Court yesterday afteri'noon before Messrs R. Edwards and ,N. H. Sinclair, J.P’s. 1 To the charge of setting fire to Cook’s ' cooperage, Main Street, evidence concerning which was taken in the morning, the taller one, who was ! alone concerned in this episode, entered a plea of guilty and was comI mitted to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. OBSTRUCTION ON LINE. The same accused was then required to answer a charge that, on February 19, 1927, at Palmerston North, he did unlawfully place an obstruction, to I wit a railway wooden sleeper, on the railway line. ! In evidence, Arthur Kilgour, of Palmerston North, engine-driver, stated that, on February 19, he had been driving the Marton to Palmerston North goods train that was timed : to arrive here shortly after 11 o’clock. When just at the Terrace End station the train had struck an obstruction on the line, and, on witness stopping the train, a wooden sleeper between six and seven feet long was found to have been the cause. The train was delayed for about half an hour, No one was noticed about when the train ran into the obstruction, which was easily one that could have caused considerable damage. William White, of Palmerston North, fireman, who bad been the pre-, vious witness’s companion in the engine, gave similar 'evidence. Detective Barling, stationed at Pal merston North, stated that accused, in an interview with witness on August 6, had admitted that lie had placed a sleeper, which he had obtained from a pile near the station, on the Alain Trunk line, his idea being to cause some excitement. He had shown witness and Senior-Detective Quirke the place I where he had placed the sleeper on the rails, and this spot had coincided with the location of marks and pieces of wood previously found there. Accused again pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. ELECTRIC WIRES CUT. The same accused was then charged that, on August 4, 1926, at Fitzherbert West, he did wilfully damage eight electric telegraph wires by cutting same. Fred Henderson, of Palmerston North, employed by the Post and Telegraph Department as a “fault” finder, deposed that, on A.pril 6, on proceeding to a spot half, a mile from the Fitzherbert bridge on the road to Wellington, he had found eight or nine telegraph wires cut, the work apparently having been done with a pair of pliers. Detective Barling gave evidence that on being questioned on August 8 accused had admitted cutting the wires. Accused, pleading guilty, was committed for sentence. ANOTHER COMPANION INVOLVED

A third young rnan whose name was also suppressed was jointly charged with the previous accused that, on or about Alarch 23, 1926, at Awapuni, they did wilfully damage two electric telephone wires by cutting same with intent to obstruct the transmission or delivery of any messages. Fred Henderson, the witness in the previous case, gave evidence that, on Alarch 24, he had found two telephone wires cut at Awapuni. Signed statements made by both accused admitting their guilt were put in by Detective Barling. Both pleaded guiiby and were committed for sentence.

Bail was allowed, the third accused in his own recognisance of £SO.

FURTHER CHARGES

i Later in the afternoon two of the accused came before Air S. L. P, Free, S.M. to answer other charges. “These young men seem to have followed a line of criminal conduct, giving false fire alarms, damaging telephones nnd indulging in petty tliefta Neither of tho accused is of very good mentality, and tlie series of charges against them is the result of their activities over a period of the past six mouths. They are at present committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on several more serious charges,” said Senior-Detective Quirke.

The taller of the two accused admitted a charge of unlawfully giving a false alarm to the Palmerston North Fire Brigade on July 30th. Jointly the two accused pleaded guilty to charges as follow: That on ■July 28 at Palmerston they stole a bicycle electric generation and lamp, three tyre levers, an adjusting spanner, oil can, and two bicycle clips of the total value of £1 12s 6d, the property of J. E. L. Foddy; that on July 28 they stole a radiator cap, an electric torch and tyro tester of the total value of £1 11s, the property of E. W. Holbrook; that on July 12th they wilfully gave a false alarm to the Palmerston North Fire Brigade; that on May 9th they wilfully damaged. three public telephones situated at the corner of Cuba and Rangitikei streets, at the Bank of Australasia • corner, and at the corner of Main and Ruahine Streets, all being the property of the Post and Telegraph Department; that on June 4 they stole a bicycle electric generator and lamp valued at 30s, the property of some person or persons unknown; that on or about July 15th at Palmerston North they stole one bicycle gas lamp valued at 10s, the property of some person or persons unknown.

“NEITHER SENSE NOR ABILITY.” Since leaving school both the accused had been mentally abnormal, submitted Mr Ongley on their behalf. Neither seemed to have any sense or ability, although in each instance their parents had used every endeavour to alleviate their mental weakness, and to keep them on the straight path. Both the accused were under medical attention, but neither was of such pronounced abnormal mentality as to be sent to a mental home. Both were incapable of keeping any kind of job for any length of time. Mr Ongley referred to the fact that both accused had been committed for sentence on major charges including arson, committed from a spirit of pure sensationalism. Counsel concluded by expressing a hope that for the welfare of the accused, they would be committed to a Borstal Institute on the major charges. In the meantime he suggested * that f the Magistrate should defer giving his sentence in regard to the minor charges. “The case is a very-sad one,” remarked the Magistrate. He proposed to enter convictions, but would defer sentence until next morning. In regard to Mr Ongley’s plea for the suppression of the names, tlie Magistrate initmated that while ho was reluctant to accede to the request, he would do so until next morning.