BURGLARY CASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22223, 25 September 1935, Page 17

BURGLARY CASES

four men sentenced 'JEWIiLLER'S SHOP ROBBED I THE use of explosives Of five young men who appeared bpfore Mr. Justice Cnllan in the Supreme Court vesterda.v for sentence four had admitted rrimes of breaking and entering nnd theft. Having admitted their part in stealing over £l3O worth of jewellery from a jeweller's shop in Whangarei on the nigh*; of August 25, Reginald George Bloomfield and James Russell <ig c hwass appeared for sentence. On behalf of Bloomfield, Mr. Noble Bai<l his record appeared to bo a very formidable one. He was 33 years of age, and it was. stated that lie had boasted of his intention to continue his criminal career, but that might be put down, to vanity. A burglar's outfit was found in the men's possession, but it was not clear to whom it belonged. Bloomfield came to New Zealand from Australia in 1929, and it might be that the economic conditions "had made it difficult for him to get employment. Schwass handed up a written statement. His Honor said he was willing to put out of his mind the suggestion that Bloomfield had boasted of his firm intention to remain an enemy of society, but there had been not merely a very deliberate breaking and entering, but there was the use of explosives which had been prepared. He thought it was reasonably clear that Bloomfield was the organiser and the controlling spirit, and unless he adhered to his present repentant frame of mind he would be a grave danger to society. His Honor would refrain from declaring him an habitual criminal, but he could assure Bloomfield that that was what would happen if ever he wa3 brought up again on a similar charge. He would be sentenced to three years' hard labour, to be followed by a year of reformative detention. His Honor said he was willing to regard Schwass as having been led into the matter unwillingly by Bloomfield, end he would be sentenced to 18 months' hard labour. • , VISITS PAID TO HOUSES TWO YEARS' HARD LABOUR Three charges of breaking and entering houses and theft, and one of attempting to break and enter, had been admitted by Charles Arthur Hansen, labourer, aged 23, for whom Mr. Noble appeared. Air. Npble said prisoner had not had much of a chance in life. His father and mother died when he was quite young, and he very early drifted into offences against society. "This is a sad case," said His Honor, who added that it was not nearly so bad as the case he had just been dealing with in which explosives had been used. His Honor said it was not a case of theft for want of food or clothing. Prisoner had twice had two years' Borstal treatment, and was sentenced -to two years' hard labour in 1933. It •was very difficult to know what to do with him, but His Honor could not five him less than another two years' ard labour. YOUNG MAN'S OFFENCES A CONCURRENT SENTENCE John Henry Wilson, aged 23, had been sent on from Wanganui and from New Plymouth for sentence on charges of breaking and entering and theft, and attempting to break and enter. Mr. R. Meredith, for the Crown, •aid Wilson was already serving several sentences. His Honor imposed a sentence of 18 months' hard labour on each of the charges, the sentences to be concurrent with each other, and with the other sentences prisoner was serving. An order was made for the return of the stolen property to its owners,,