CRIME PUNISHED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 12

CRIME PUNISHED.

" WARLIKE OPERATIONS."

FOUR MAORIS SENTENCED.

DOMINATION BY LEADER.

MAN OF CRIMINAL INSTINCTS

Four Maoris appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court yesterday on various charges relating to offences committed at Dargaville. "You must understand that this State of New Zealand will do its best to stamp out warlike operations like liicsc," said Uh Honor in passing sentence. Peter Stewart, aged 45, gumdiggor, had pleaded guilty to tho following charges:—Receiving stolen goods, counselling and procuring others to commit arson, arson,, sheep-stealing, two cluuges of breaking and entering and theft, and counselling and procuring breaking and entering and theft. James Toko, aged 20, gumdiggor, had pleaded guilty to arson, sheep-stealing and two charges oi breaking and enfeiing and tbeft. John 'lo Waake, aged 19, gurmjigger, had pleaded guilty to two charges of arson and three of bicaking and entering and theft. To'llis Honor Stewart admitted convictions on two charges of theft in 1930 and one. iu 1928. omitting convictions as far back as 1909. Both Te Waake and Toko admitted convictions for theft in 1930. . Wilfully iScfc Fire to HouseAs far as Stewart was concerned, said His Honor,' on March 50, with his wife, To Waaka and Toko, he had entered a dwelling and had returned the following day, .again stealing goods. Ho had afterwards wilfully set firo to the house to cover up his tracks. Tho house was newly-built, and had been stocked with furniture, but it was not insured. Eleven days later Stewart bad counselled Te Waake to, enter a shop and steal goods valued at £2B, and had then counselled him to set fire to tho premises. There wero seven charges, all of a serious nature.

Probably nothing, could be found in Stewart's" favour, His Honor continued. He was a desperate man of criminal instincts. Sentences of imprisonment with hard labour were then 'imposed as follows: Qn each charge of breaking and eutcring, two years; arson, fivo jeaio; sheep-stealing, one year; counselling breaking and entering, two years; counselling arson, five years; receiving stolen

goods, two years. "Tho sentences will be concurrent, making a total of fivo years imprisonment- for these warlike operations, said His Honor. "If you come here again you will without; doubt bo declared an habitual criminal." * Period of Discipline Required.

Addressing Toko, His Honor said: "The ■view'l take is that you have been under the control of Stewart. It appears that, be threatened you and that if you did not do as he told you he would use a luiilc on ycu. It seems , that he is an expert man with the knife. ' You require a period of discipline and you will be sentenced to the Borstal Institute for two years." The saint 1 remarks applied to To Waake, said His Honor, in ordering his detention at tho Borstal Institute for two years. Rebecca Stewart, aged 22, domestic, appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering and theft. O/i the prisoner's behalf Mr. Noble Raid she appeared tho least culpable of them. It seamed that she. was under the domination of her husband.

For the Crown Mr. Ilubblo said that together they seemed to have made a dangerous gang in Dargaville, but Peter Stewart appeared to be the ringleader.

"You' are married to a man who appears to i)&-. s of criminal instincts and some force,'' said ITis Honor in addressing the prisoner. * will take it that you were under the influence of your husband."

■ The prisoner admitted to probation for a period of three years. s