CRIME PUNISHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23037, 14 May 1938, Page 20

CRIME PUNISHED

SUPREME COURT CASES SIX MEN SENTENCED BREAKING AND ENTERING THEFT FROM FERRY OFFICE Of seven prisoners who were brought before Mr. Justices Jair in the Supreme Court yesterday fev sentence six had admitted or had'bapn found guilty of offences of breaking; and entering and theft. One had also 'been guilty of unlawfully converting motor-cars to his own use. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, represented tho Crown. Charges of breaking: into the premises of the Devonpotrt Steam Ferry Company, Limited, on the eastern reclamation on April and stealing from there a brief bag containing clothing, had been proved Jointly against Thomas Edward McMahotn. electrician, aged 39 (Mr. Noble) and Samuel John Itoss, labourer, aged 34 Aekins). McMahon alone bad been found guilty of the theft of a travelling clock, camera and case.

Mr. Noble said McMahon had had a rather tremendous sentence on a previous occasion and he had b®n out of employment practically ever since his release. His Honor: Apparently he has not been seeking employment. Mr. Noble said McMahon was not the master spirit on this expedition of breiting and entering. The loader had since been sentenced. . : -? r Fleas by Counsel

McMahon was under the influence of drink, Mr. Noble said, and took a minor part, in the offence. The theft was committed when he was wandering about in a hotel after hours. Mr. Aekins said Ross was a married man with four children. He had a formidable list of convictions, but most of them were for crimes of drunkenness. He had never been before the Supreme Court before. His Honor: He has been before the Magistrate's Court on 29 or 30 occasions. v , , His Honor said McMahon had been released on December 17, 1936, after serving a term of 14 years' imprisonment. He proposed to regard that as having been erased, and he would take into account that there had been no convictions in the 15 months since his release. Ho would bo sentenced to three months' imprisonment oir each of the two charges, the terms to be cumulative- , As far as Ross' family was concerned, His Honor said Ross had done nothing to support them since December last. He woulcl be sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. „ , . Oars Converted

Against Kenneth William Mailman, aged 24, there were two charges of theft, two of unlawful conversion of motor-cars, tyo of attempted breaking into shops and one of breaking into a counting house and theft. j\lr. Noble, appearing for prisoner, said he had acquired a rather considerable police record for a man of his age. He did not like farm work, and apparently could not get work in the city. , '.'There is very little to be said in your favour," said His Honor. ' Although you can get work you will not avail yourself of it, but prefer to commit crimes." His Honor imposed terms of imprisonment on, the various charges amounting in all to 18 months. A clerk and labourer, aged 26, Ernest Edwin Newton, committed for sentence for breaking into the premises of James Crawford, on the Great North Road, and stealing a safe, was not represented and had nothing to say. His Honor said prisoner was already serving a sentence of three years' imprisonment for a somewhat similar offence, and he did not intend to increase that period. He would be sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour, to be concurrent with the present sentence. Probation Broken

For breach of probation on which he was placed for burglary, Kerewai Wirihani was . sentenced to three months' imprisonment. The probation officer, Mr. J. Anderson, said prisoner had converted a motor-car to his own use on the day 011 which lie was admitted to probation and had committed another offence on the following day. Probation on- special conditions was granted to Joe Kanahi, sent up from Pukekohe for breaking into a dwelling house and theft. His Honor said there were no previous convictions and Kanahi was" reported to lie a good worker. He would be placed on probation for a term of tAvo years on condition that he paid tho costs of the prosecution, £3 13s 6d, and refunded the balance of the stolen money, £2 0s 6d, within six months.