PRISONERS SENTENCED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 14

PRISONERS SENTENCED.

MANY CASES OF THEFT.

PLEAS OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

BORSTAL FOR CAT BURGLAR. The young "cat burglar," Reginald Gordon Cotterill, who caused much trouble recently, appeared for sentence before Mr. Justico Kennedy in tho Supreme Court yesterday, and wag com initted to a Borstal institution for threo years.

The offences to which Cotterill had pleaded guilty were 12 charges of breaking, entering and theft, 15 of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, and ono of falso pretences. He had nothing to say. Mr. Hubble, for the Crown, saki that the prisoner had compiled a remarkable list of offences in a short period. Ho had obtained less than £2O in all, but he had caused a groat deal of annoyance and trouble.

In reply to His Honor, Cotterill said that he would bo 18 years old noxt November. It was true that ho had been in the habit of giving his ago as 23, but it was in tho hope of getting work.

"You navo pleaded guilty to a very lengthy list of serious crimes," said His Honor. "They vvero committed over a short period, but they wero grave, and were carried out apparently with great resourco and determination. You aro only 18, but I find that you had but a poor education; leaving school threo years ago at 15, when you had passed only tho fourth standard.

"It is clear that you must bo taught habits of industry, and that a career of crime can never be a successful career. From the nature and number of your crimes it is clear that probation is entirely out of the question, and the probation officer does not recommend it. It is clear that you require further supervision, and that society must be protected from the likes of you. In your own best interests and those of society, you will bo sent to a Borstal institution for three yoars. There your education will bo completed, and I hopo that you will emergo a useful citizen." Maori and Islander. Charged with breaking, entering and theft from a dwelling, and with breaking and entering St. Mary's Cathedral with intent to commit a crimo, a Maori, Walter Hunter, gavo a fluent account of his vain efforts to get work, because he was being pressed to pay somo old debts. Remarking that the prisoner had a long record of thefts and three gaol sentences, His Honor sentenced him to three years' hard labour. A stylishly-dressed Islandor, Jack Hopo, pleaded guilty to stealing £l2 from one dwelling and to breaking and entering another by night and stealing a quantity of goods. lie also pleaded unemployment. His Honor, remarking that the prisoner had been imprisoned for a similar offence in the Islands, and that his trouble seemed to bo laziness, sentenced him to ono year's hard labour, to bo followed by otio year's reformative detention. Detention For Three Yean.

For breaking and entering two dwellings by day and stealing 255, Ivan Major Martin filing (Mr. Noblo) was sentenced to three years' reformative de-

tention. Mr. Noble said that prisoner was convicted in 1922, at the ago of 19, and onco before that, but for tho past seven years ho had tried to go straight. On this occasion he had turned to crime because he could not get work and his delicate wife and two children were practically starving. Mr. Hubblo said that prisoner was sentenced to five years' reformative detention in 1922, and was released in 1925. liis Honor said that tho circumstances did not bear out tho prisoner's statement that ho had stolen to buy food for his family. "You seem to be more simple-minded than criminal; it appears that you have been trying to emulate exhibitions seen in tho moving pictures," said His Honor to Howard William Whitcficld (22), who had pleaded guilty at Uaweno to breaking, entering and theft. Whitefield, who had been in some troublo before, was placed on probation for three years, with the special proviso that ho should not frequent pictureshows or billiard saloons. Ho was ordered to pay £2 6s costs in two monthly instalments. Robbery With Violence. "You must learn that the law will protect from robbery women whose virtuo is easy just as much as those who lead a virtuous life," said His Honor in sentencing Percival Charles Yates to nine months hard labour on a charge of rolibery with violence, which he had admitted at Hamilton. lie was charged with stealing £1 13s in money and a ! purue containing certificates. I His Honor said that clearly tho prisoner had used considerable violence, i Tho case was not a usual one, but evidently he was an ordinary bully of a certain type. A sentence of two years' reformative detention was imposed on Charles Richj ard Torstenson, married, aged 27, committed from Whangarei on two charges j of having unlawful relations with a girl i aged 14 years and 8 months. It was stated that at tho time of tho offence the girl was living in prisoner's house, and he was virtually her guardian, j A successful appeal for probation was mado by Mr. Dromgool on behalf of I a young man committed fiom Te Puko j on a charge of having unlawful relations j with a girl aged 14 years and 8 months. | His Honor remarked that various witnesses had placed the girl's apparent age at anything between 15 and 25, and tho prisoner, if ho had been ono year younger, would have been able to raise j a successful defence against tho charge. iHo would be placed on probation for ' threo years and ordered to pay £4 14s costs. ■ Theft of Horses. A plea of mental abnormality was put forward by Mr. Sullivan on behalf of Andrew James Watson, aged 20, who had admitted the theft of a mare. Counsel said that prisoner took the animal from a former employer, leaving a note to say that he had done so. Ho was firmly convinced that money was coming to him from Scotland, but. everything indicated that this was a ptiro delusion. About eleven months ago ho had fallen from a cart and slightly injurod his head. Sinco then his behaviour and his whole outlook had changed. Mr. Sullivan suggested that a term of strict probation should be imposed, and that if necessary prisoner should bo placed in the Wolfe Home.After hearing evidence by Dr. H. Rarraelough and tho Rev. Jasper Caldor, His Honor remanded tho prisoner for u week for observation by specialists. A Maori. Sonny Haare, aged 19, who had pleaded guilty at Opotiki to stealing a horso, was admitted to probation for threo years and was ordered to pay £9 2s 6d costs in three monthly instalments.