PRISONEES ON TRIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15998, 17 August 1915, Page 5

PRISONEES ON TRIAL.

SUPREME COURT CASES. THEFT OF YACHTS. TERM ■OF FIVE YEARS. Tob . criminal sessions of' the • Supreme ~ rt , were opened yesterday by His J»»or Mr. Justice Chapman. The Crown 1 ro cllt °r, the Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C. conducted the cases for the Crown. J'n following Grand Jury . were; empanel :-Messis. 11. S. Milroy, foreman, ' A" 11 reao ' L. \V. Alexander, R. S. H. Biss, W. Carrick, J. G. Currie, H. M. Garden, A. liady.G. E. G. Foote, W. P. v !- 3 ';. H ' H - Hunt . J- J- Kerr, J. II; P. Kissiing, E. R. Morton, B. McCallum, ~ u Halloran, J. Roberts, and W. J. Ronayne. ■ < c..i he ( G r?" d Jury found a no-bill in the tn i,° eol ' Se . i'isher, who was alleged FMii' lV ° . I ! llni^e d an indecent assault. slier as thereupon discharged. Wfir°' 'l emen Alfred Westlake and cliai'o? J ft'' pleaded not guilty to cim ° i steall a yacht valued at -WW, and a dinghy valued at £28- The ciued were not represented by counsel. the Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the case, Stated that the yacht Rinaldo, the property of .Mr. W. Littleproud, was taken from its moorings at Ponsonby on May 1, while a dinghy, tho property of My. L. Short, disappeared from tho beach at: Sentinel Bay. Some considerable timo afterwards the two. accused wero arrested at Onehunga. with the stolen yacht, disguised 'to a very largo extent, in their care. In statements mado to tlie police, the Crown Prosecutor - added, ' the men had admitted the thefts, stating that the boats were those best suited to their purposes. During the time the yacht was in their possession the men had sailed up the coast, round the North Cape, and down to Unehunga, where they were arrested. ' Another charge of theft was made against Westlake, who was alleged to have st° en the yacht Awatiri from moorings in Hob son Bay. Ten or eleven days afterwards the boat was recovered at Mercury Bay. When seen by the police, the Crown I rosecutor stated, Westlake had admitted taking the boat, but said lie intended to' return it later on. The Awatiri was owned by Mr. L. L. Barker, and was valued at about £120.

1 lie jury empanelled in the first case, after a retirement of five minutes, found both the accused guilty. The second charge against Westlake .was then proceeded with, and the jury, without retiring, found him guilty. JJ-- ; -i'v-:

His Honor remarked that the records showed Westlake to be a criminal by choice. The present offence, that of systematic stealing yachts from the harbour, was a very serious matter. A term of five years' ' imprisonment, with hard labour, would be imposed, and, in addition, Wostbke would Ibe declared an habitual criminal. 'Murphy's record was not so bad. 'Murphy would be sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour. v\ ' ,r -./ :■ I

FOUR YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. THEFT OF SHEEP ADMITTED. Cecil John Renwick pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing 88 sheep at Papatoetoe on May 25. In addition, he admitted selling them tinder a false name, and receiving a cheque for £85 18s 3d, which lie duly cashed. Mr. R. McVeagli admitted that accused had previously served a- term of imprisonment- for, theft. He said his client had acted in the present instance under financial pressure, and had not expended the proceeds of his crime on his own pleasure. The whole of the proceeds 'of the sale, with th© exception of £15, paid to an accomplice who had been 1 dealt with, had been paid,to creditors. The Crown Prosecutor said that the ac- 1 cused had been imprisoned in 1912 on three charges of theft, and had been fined j on a further charge of theft. Really Renwick had qualified as an habitual criminal. I His Honor characterised the action of Renwick as most barefaced, ami added | that lie must look upon the accused as criminal by inclination. Reft wick would be sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with hard labour. SIX MONTHS FOR FORGERY.

PLEA OF DESPERATE NEED. Charles Henry Martin (Mr. J. R. Lundon) pleaded guilty to charges of forgery and uttering. 'Mr.' Lundon explained that the crime bad ccen committed when Martin's family was in dire necessity; in fact at the point of starvation. It was admitted that Martin had appeared at the Court for a similar offence about a year ago, when he was admitted to probation. In June last he had come to , the end of his resources, and walked to Otahuhu to see a friend, whom, ho felt, might help him. ITnfortunatelv the friend was away, and Martin, unable to secure help, had walked back to. Auckland. Then, in desperate need, he had forged a cheque and bough* some meat. ' J His Honor said accused must nave known tho seriousness of his offence. The sentence, however, ..would be a moderate one, namely, six months' - imprisonment with hard labour. *