BROTHERS SENTENCED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23048, 27 May 1938, Page 15

BROTHERS SENTENCED

BREAKING AND ENTERING COMMENT BY THE JUDGE Charged with breaking and entering a shop at Whakatane and committing theft, two brothers, Graham Wilfred Morton and George Morton, appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr. V. R. Meredith represented the Crown and Mr. Slipper appeared for both accused. Mr. Slipper said that notwithstanding their past offences he suggested that the circumstances showed that the accused were not men who were constantly going about trying to take their fellow men down. 13oth were good workers capable of keeping their jobs. Graham Morton had come out of Waikeria on licence in December, 1937, while George Morton had been released from the same place on licence in March, 1937. His Honor said both accusd had bad records and the facts urged by counsel in mitigation of the oifence did not excuse it. It appeared that Graham Morton was mainly responsible for the crime and it seemed that he had deliberately set out with the idea of breaking and entering the premises concerned. Both accused had committed the offence while out on probationary licence. The least sentence that could be imposed on Graham Morton was 18 months, His Honor said. In respect to George Morton, he would accept the evidence that he acted under tho persuasion and influence of his brother, although he knew what he was doing. He would be sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.