CRAZE FOR AVIATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 18 September 1933, Page 4

CRAZE FOR AVIATION

REASON FOR ESCAPADES. BANK HOLD-UP CASE. 1 Tho craze for aviation, a reckless ? spirit and an exaggerated idea by accused of his own capabilities were des- ' cribed by counsel (Mr H. F. O’Lea.ry) 1 in the Supreme Court at AVellington 1 as the main reasons for ‘an embarka- : tion upon a. career of crime bv William Murn AlacDonnkl, the 19-year-old | youth, who was on Friday sentenced to 1 tour years’ Borstal detention by the Chief Justice (Sir AI. Alyers), in conI sequence of the bank hold-up and other 1 offences at Palmerston North and Mas- ■ ter to ii. 'i Counsel for accused said that he need C scarcely stress tho youth a.nd upbring- ’ ing of accused, and the tragedy of a I ’ young mail of his birth and education I being in the position he was. At one : 1 time ho had a desire to become a mem- ; her of the legal profession, a.nd for a . period was in a law office in another ; town. In Easter of this year he gave up ; this work, expressing himself as want- ' ing to act for himself and oarve out his own future. ■ - He went to the aerodrome at Alasterton as a mechanic, working without pay with the intention of entering an aviation school and eventually . the Royal Air Force. Apparently tilings were not moving fast enough , for him, and he wrote to Sir Charles Ivingsford Smith. Unfortunately for him he got a reply, a stereotype one, no doubt. He thought probably that here was a chance, if he could get away, of joining the famous airman and his whole desire was to get away as quickly as he could to Australia. It was understood that Aiacdonald obtained the revolver because of his connection with the aerodrome, lor it was usual for pilots to carry one for the purpose of signalling or making known their presence. In his room literature of a lurid bandit and detective type was found, and no doubt he got his model from this. His conduct, counsel submitted, was not due to inherent criminal tendencies. He felt that his ambition to be an airman was being thwarted and he wanted to get away as quickly as lie could. He now realised the folly of the whole matter, and he also realised that he must be punished for what he had done. “I agree with All- O’Leary’s description of a case like this as a tragedy, but the offences, to the commission of which you have pleaded guilty, are so numerous, and some of them are of so serious a nature, ns to cast upon tho court the imperative duty of dealing with you in a manenr which will he alike a punishment to yourself, and a deterrent to other youths who may be disposed to act as you have done,” ! stated His Honour in passing sentence. I “If it appears that there is no valid j ground for believing that your eonj duct is due to a state of mind which ! would require the authorities to take • action, the question as to whether you ; can be released from your detention ; in the Borstal Institution before the expiration of the. period ordered will depend upon your own conduct, upon the manner in which you respond to disciplinary treatment, and upon your I being able to satisfy the proper a.utli- . orities that there is reasonable ground i for believing that you will behave as j a law-abiding citizen.”