GRAVE OFFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 22

GRAVE OFFENCE

ROBBERY BY YOUTHS THE USE OF VIOLENCE ' i COMMENT BY THE JUDGE TERM OF DETENTION IMPOSED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHKISTCHUHCH, Friday Two youths, both under 20 years of age, Douglas' William Barlow and Wilia in Hamilton Noonan, stood in the Supreme Court dock to-day to receive sentence for robbery with violence, "This is a particularly grave crime; one of the gravest," Mr. Justice Northcroft told them. "You may know now, if you did not know before, that you are iji danger of a flogging. I have it in mind that English Judges have recently ordered a flogging for this offence. '* On Noonan's behalf Mr. Quigley said that it was an unfortunate lapse on the part of a 17-year-old boy. The trouble seemed to have come about through the boys congregating and going about in old motor-cars and getting drunk. "They , have been able to get drijik with surprising facility," remarked Mr. Quigley. "When arrested they had several bottles of whisky in the car. Boys of such age, taking whisky, would probably get full of Dutch courage and do things they would" not otherwise do." ■A tragic family history was related by counsel, Mr. Youngi ■ on Barlow s behalf. After a bout 'of heavy drinking, lie said, Barlow's father had criminally assaulted his mother, and had then committed suicide. His father's brother had also committed suicide, and his sister had been confined in a mental hospital. Barlow admittedly had a bad list, ho remarked, although he was not yet 20. lhere seemed to be a strain of mental weakness in his blood. "I cannot but regard you as dangerous and mischievous youths," said His Honor, in sentencing both to detention in a Borstal institution for not .more than three years.