DANGEROUS CRIMINALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 13

DANGEROUS CRIMINALS.

TEE GRAYS SENTENCED

ONE RECEIVES JEN YEARS*

SEVEN YEARS FOR BROTHER*

"DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE."!

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]! CHEISTCHTJRCH, Friday.

For the extraordinary crimes that havfl made him notorious, Charles Robert Graj) was to-day sentenced to ten years' im« prisonment with hard labour. His brother and companion in crime, James Wilfred Gray, will serve seven years with hard labour. Both were declared habitual criminals. Charles Robert Gray is 17j years of age and his brother is 19. These sentences were"" imposed by Mr* Justice Adams in the Supreme Court aftefl a long and studied review of all the crimes committed by the young men, and of tho circumstances, and after considering the punishment for several days. Bu«j for his youth, Charles- Gray would prob« ably have been sentenced to imprisonment for life for attempted murder and arson*. His Honor remarked. The Court was crowded.

Passing sentence, His. Honor said:-* " There are no fewer than 17 convictions for arson, seven for breaking and entering and theft, three for attempted arson, three for breaking and entering, with intent to commit a crime, and one of attempted breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, in which both j were involved.

" Precocious Criminals." " Charles Gray stands convicted, i®' addition to these offences, with the crime of attempted murder, one conviction for arson, four for breaking and entering and theft, two for breaking and ,entering withi intent to commit a crime, 'and one foif mischief. The total list of crimes foir which Charles Gray is to be dealt wittt is 42.

" The long list of serious crimes com* mitted during six months demonstrates that each of the prisoners, although young in years, is, in fact, a precocious criminal of the most dangerous class. The wanton destruction of property resulted in a loss to insurance companies and persons estimated at £50,000. Both prisoners showed a callous disregard of human life.That was shown in their setting fire to Sfc.t Luke's Schoolroom, an old building, when a social was being held in the upper rooms. Had they been successful, on# shudders to think what might , have been the result.

Shooting ol Hammond. "Charles Gray showed that same cat* lousness by the shooting of Hammonds Fortunately the bullet did not result in death, but the extreme gravity of'-tha charge is indicated when it is realised, that the bullet was stayed within one inch of Hammond's heart. Charles Gray, will be sentenced for attempted murder to 10 years, on each' conviction for arson seven years, on each conviction for atI tempted arson five years, on each conviction for breaking arid entering and theft two years, on each „ conviction for break- . ing and entering with intent to commit a crime two years, on each conviction for attempted breaking and entering one year, and on the conviction for mischief one year. The sentences shall be eon* current and the prisoner is declared aa habitual criminal. i

Other Brother's Offences. "James Gray has been associated. witH Charles Gray during a considerable por-" tion of his career of crime. I have no( doubt that while this accused was not in- < volve'd in some of the most serious crimes and not in the crime of attempted murder,' he has tffevertheless acted in concert, and as the coadjutant and helper in a large number of the crimes. He will be sentenced on each conviction for arson to seven years, on each conviction for\ break* ing and entering and theft two years,; on each conviction for breaking and en* tering with intent to commit a crime two. years, and on the conviction for attempted breaking and entering one year. The sentences will be concurrent and he declared an habitual criminal." -

The prisoners left the dock, only to ba recalled. His Honor said: "It is a matter more of form than substance. I omitted to deal with the cases of attempted arson* . In each case each prisoner will be sentenced to seven years. The maximum for that offence is 14 years. I,regret that I have made a mistake. The sentence oa James Gray is five years, not seven."'

Series of Other Charges. After receiving sentence -in th® Supreme Court the prisoners appeared ia the Police Court, before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., to be dealt with on charges of theft and wilful damage. Charles Robert Gray was charged with stealing, on Juna 16, 1929, two pearl necklets, two gold bracelets, one pencil and 10s in money, of" a total value of £9 10s. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour. Charles Gray and James Wilfred Gray were charged with stealing a brooch, valued at £2, on May 15, 1929. Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to threa months' imprisonment. '"■ These are two new charges," remarked Chief-Detective Carrill. "One was committed in Warner's Hotel and th® other,, in the United Service Hotel." On three charges of theft, to which' they had already pleaded guilty, tha brothers were sentenced to three months* imprisonment on each charge. Charles Gray was sentenced to six months' and three months' imprisonment on two charges of theft, to which he had already pleaded guilty, and on each of two charges of .wilful damage he was sentenced tg three months' imprisonment. On : five further minor charges in which ona j or both were involved the brothers wer» j convicted and discharged. /