ARSON AND THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20618, 17 July 1930, Page 14

ARSON AND THEFT.

LONG SERIES OF CHARGES.

NINE YOUTHS ,IN COURT. MANY OFFENCES ADMITTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 4 ) HAMILTON, Wednesday. The heaving of the. charges against nine Cambridge youths of committing arson, theft and mischief, was continued in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.

The accused were John Vickers Featherstone, Sidney Walter Goodall, Alfred Dorrington Brown, Edward David Brown, Harvey Charles Hall, John Meredith, Ilcrzel Edward Orr, David George Harrison and George Gordon Stewart Simpson. Their ages ranged from IS to 28 years. All except Simpson were charged with committing arson, while six were accused of theft. Simpson was charged with committing theft and mischief, and Goodall was charged with receiving stolen goods as well as with arson. Damage of £SOOO. Two houses in Cambridge and ono in Hamilton, two motor-cars, two haystacks at Ngaruawahia, the Rotorua Church hall and the Frankton West Church hall, all of which were destroyed by fire, were mentioned in (he charges. Damage to tho extent of £SOOO was done. It was also alleged against some of tho accused that they threw a motor-car into the Waikato River at the Narrows, and that they stole a largo quantity of benzine and motor-car parts. Tho charges totalled 70, and from ono to 18 charges wero preferred against individual members of tho party. Tho Court was crowded during the hearing, and a largo quantity of goods was exhibited in Court.

Hall and Featherstone pleaded guilty to a charge of setting tire to Mrs. A. Lowther's house in Alpha Street, Cambridge, on Juno 19, and wero committed for sentence. The two Browns and Ooodall denied this charge, and were committed for trial. Hamilton House Burned. Pleas of guilty were entered by Featherstone, Hall and E. D. Brown to charges of mischief with respect to G. D. Smith's car, which was damaged by fire, and to setting fire to Miss 11. Roger's house in Albert Street, Hamilton East. Thev wero committed for sentence. A. D. Brown denied committing mischief but admitted the charge of arson. On the ono count he was committed for trial and on the other for sentence. Meredith denied both charges and was committed for trial. I 1 eatherstone, Hall and the two Browns were charged with setting firo to J. 11. Whyte's shed at Claudelands, J. W. Lauder's motor-car at Claudelands, and two haystacks owned by D. McKeown and R. E. Baldwyn, at Ngaruawahia. Accused admitted stealing a motor-car owned by If. Jones, at Hamilton, and taking it to the Narrows Bridge at Tamaliere and pushing it into the river after having taken away most of Hie movable parts. Featherstone and Hall pleaded guilty to four charges and were committed for sentence. On the fifth count they pleaded not guilty, and wero committed for trial. The two Browns were committed for sentonce on three charges and for trial 011 two clmrges. Oases of Benzine Stolen. The theft of eight cases of benzine, valued at £7 10s, tho property of J. 0. I'otts, was preferred against Meredith, Goodall and Featherstone. Tho benzine was taken from the Brunt wood railway station. The accused pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. Pleas of guilty were entered by Goodall, Featherstone and Edward Brown io a charge of setting fire to a house in Thornton Road, Cambridge, the property of Mrs. Ivy Murdoch. Tho house was unoccupied and was valued at £475. If. was destroyed. Accused were committed for sentonce. Featherstone and E. 1). Brown wero charged with tho theft of a motor mascot owned by T. A. Devine, and with attempted arson in connection with tho house of Miss Rogers in Albert Street. Hamilton East. Detectives Thompson and White read statements by both accused admitting tho chargo of ptteftipted arson. Accused pleaded guilty to the charge and were committed for sentence. Tho first charge was dismissed. Burning of Church Halls.

A charge of arson in connection with the burning of the Frankton West Church hall was preferred against Hall, Featherstone and the two Browns, who pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. Pleas of not guilty to the same charge were entered by Harrison and Orr, who were committed for trial, bail being allowed.

Featherstone, Goodall, Meredith and the two Browns all admitted a charge of arson in connection with tho Rototuna Church hall and weie committed for sentence.

Tho cases in which the magistrate has summary jurisdiction were dealt with and sentenco was postponed until July 25. All those who pleaded guilty to the major charges will come up for sentence before Mr. Justice Herdman in tho Supreme Court at Hamilton on Monday or Tuesday.