EXPLOITS
the prohibited arms in this case were nothing worse than a sheath knife. Inspector Hatherill added that it was known Beckert had forged German notes to the face value of £2500, and Belgian notes to the face value of £2093. Beckert also declared at first that lie had forged English notes to the value of £SOOO, but denied it afterwards. Mr. Donald Sumner, defending, pleaded that Beckert had had a hard and unhappy early liio. He ran away from home at the age of 15 and tramped the country. He went into the German Army, but was declared unfit for service,' as he fired on his own lines. Not Normal "I am not suggesting he is insane," declared Mr. Sumner, "but I am suggesting he is not normal." In 1927, Mr. Sumner proceeded, Bockert was a steelworker in Luxembourg when he discovered lie had a gift for painting. He decided to use his talent and journeyed to England. Mr. Sumner added that Beckert had already served nine months in France and might still be punished by the Belgian and German authorities for the same offence for which an English Court was punishing him. The .Recorder, Mr. Gerald Dodson, observed that ho could not control other countries.
fie could only say lie was taking into account all tlio circumstances of the case in England and a'n-oad as far as he could. "Abused Its Hospitality?" "You have prostituted the talents with which you were gifted for ends which are not only infamous, but a grave breach of the laws of this country," the Recorder told Beckert. "So far as deportation is concerned you have been in this country for sonio years.
"It mny be that you have abused its hospitality, but deportation is a matter best considered by the Home Office. "It is obvious you employed your skill iii a way which was very dangerous to this community and its currency. "The least sentence 1 caif pass is four years' penal servitude." Beckert stood rigidly at attention as the judge addressed him. Then ho bowed gravely and went below.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)
Word Count
348EXPLOITS New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)
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