SUBURBAN BURGLARIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19119, 10 September 1925, Page 10

SUBURBAN BURGLARIES

ACCUSED SENT FOR TRIAL.

GAOL ON OTHER CHARGES.

UNLAWFUL USE OF CARS.

THE MAXIMUM SENTENCES. The hearing of the charges against Ernest John Brasting, aged 28 (Mr. Blalcey), Gustav Henry Hanson, aged 24, and James Harold O'Brien, aged 29, of committing a series of thefts and burglaries in Auckland last month, was concluded in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., and Mr. F. W. Brinsden, J.P. The accused were committed to the Supreme Court for trial on the indictable charges, and were sentenced on the summary charges. The case had lasted three days.

Detective McWhirter said O'Brien told him some time ago that he could bring along 30 or 40 witnesses to prove an alibi in some of the charges. The summary charges were that the three accused unlawfully converted a car to their use; that Hansen and O'Brien converted a car to their use; that Hansen converted a car to his use; and that all were found in possession of explosives without lawful excuse.

In sentencing the accused to three months' imprisonment on each charge, the terms to be cumulative, Mr. Poynton said:—"Three criminals of.bad type combine to commit and do commit a series of offences. From their actions and previous offences it is obvious it is their intention to prey on the community like wolves on sheep. It would not be fair on the community to do otherwise than to restrain their activities as long as possible.

"Tho maximum sentence for taking and using, motor-cars without authority is inadequate to prevent such offences. Taking cars for the purpose of committing crimes by their use is a serious nr.tter. In the United States dreadful and numerous crimes have been carried out with their aid, and this is becoming a danger here also. Persons like accused would, without any hesitation, take a car to assist them in their crimes and risk getting three months. What would any of them care for such a term ? An amendment of the Act is necessary to prevent '• such criminal use. A very severe penalty should be imposed on those using their own and other persons' cars for carrying out crimes. A joyrider is a very harmless person compared with men like the accused

"The motorcar is Jo the benefit of the criminal in abduction, kidnapping, bank and other robberies, bomb outrages, rapes and other crimes of violence. It is therefore necessary to keep a rigid control over these potential instruments of evil and to prevent motor-cars from being applied to improper purposes. Almost similar reasons can be given for treating the possession and use of explosives with intent to use them criminally, and such cases should not be dealt with lightly. For these reasons accused will receive the maximum sentences."