Pahiatua Magistrate's Court

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 145, 22 June 1939, Page 2

Pahiatua Magistrate's Court

YOUTH SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS’ BORSTAL Lawrence Clifford Benton, aged 20, appeared before Mr. H. P. La wry, S.M., at Pahiatua yesterday on two charges of theft and one charge of breach of his probation license. On the two former charges he was convicted and ordered to be detained in the Invercargill Borstal Institution for a period of eighteen months. On the eharge of breach of his probation license he was convicted and discharged. Constable Le Comte, in his evidence, stated that Benton was before the Court on March 1 last on a charge of theft of £•3 at Te Pohue when he was released on probation on the usua£ conditions with a special condition that he was to make restitution. Benton then obtained employment as a labourer in the Masterton district at £2 per week and found. He failed to comply with the conditions of his probation and was arrested on June 17. Benton admitted having left his employment some three weeks previously and went to board at Masterton where he incurred a debt of £3 15s, and tailed to pay when pressed for his board. He was requested by the landlady to leave, and it was then he committed the thefts on which he now stood charge. He took a camera belonging to the landlady, and a rug belonging to another boarder.

The Magistrate then sentenced Benton as previously mentioned. James Scanlon, charged with permit-

ing two cows to stray on the main highay at Konini on May 30 last, pleaded

not guilty. After the evidence of Inspector Milne had been heard, Scanlon was convicted and lined £1 and costs 12s.