WELL-PLANNED BURGLARY

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1933, Page 6

WELL-PLANNED BURGLARY

MUSICIANS SENT TO GAOL

PROBATION NOT POSSIBLE,

(Per Press Association.—Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, This Day

For breaking and entering the promises of Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., and carrying out Avhat was described as a carefully planned burglary, Hugh Rupert Austen, aged 23, and Desmond Ivan Fen-in, aged 2(3, professional musicians, Avere each sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment yesterday by Mr Justice Blair.

Counsel for each accused asked for leniency', on the grounds that accused Avere victims of straitened circumstances. There had been a moral weakening as a. result of unemployment. Mr Brown for Perrin, said that ho. had attained high musical honours. In .1929 he was playing in a, cabaret in Sydney and earning £lB a week. He returned to the Dominion at the request of his parents. He married a Wellington society lady and lived in Auckland, Avhere he found himself workless. He later stole £1 and was admitted to probation for 12 months. When his Avife found that he was unable to support her, she left him. This was a great shock to him. For a time ho earned £1 a Aveek at a cabaret at Ncav Plymouth. When that Avas finished lie paAvned or sold everything but his clothes. He slept out at night. He yielded to temptation and stole a Marionette, and for this was fined £l. He returned to Wellington, and while looking for Avork came into contact with Austen. Returning home from a cabaret one night, they decided to break into Whitcombe’s. Perrin later obtained (empolyment at a cabaret. He was now practically the sole support of his parents, his father having lost £.10,000 through the clump. For their sake, leniency Avas asked. Air Pope, for Austen, said his parents Avere respected Wellington residents. He, too, had had a series of misfortunes since his marriage, and through the closing of cabarets.

Mr Justice Blair said he was very sorry that he was unable to grant probation. Doth needed a, lesson and would bo sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.