CRIME PUNISHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25211, 25 May 1945, Page 3

CRIME PUNISHED

OFFENCES j?T TWO MEN TEN CAR CONVERSIONS Sentence was passed by Mr Justice Callan yesterday on several prisoners who had admitted various offences. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr V. R. Meredith, represented the Crown. Against both Cecil Fredrick Hill, aged 36, and Fredrick Roland WardroPi aged 26, there were a charge of housebreaking, ten charges of unlawful conversion of motor-c&rs and six charges of theft. Against Hill alone there, were two charges of breaking and entering and theft, four of housebreaking and one of theft. Hill made a statement attributing his conduct to a severe blow he had faced in his domestic affairs on coming out of gaol last year. His Honor reviewed Hill's list of convictions dating from 1930. and said he could hardly accept his explanation. He had been declared an habitual criminal in July, 1911. hut this declaration was later removed. He would be sentenced to three years' imprisonment with hard labour and declared an habitual criminal. Wardrop was younger and his record was not anything like so had. He would be ordered to be detained for reformative purposes for 18 months. Unexplained Oflences Neville William Francis Miller and Robert Anthony Basil Petersen, both aged 20, bad pleaded guilty to joint charges of unlawful conversion of a motor-car, breaking and entering and theft, and theft. Mr Aekins. on their behalf, acknowledged that the breaking and entering had been done while they were on bail for car conversion. Both had money at the time and neither was able to advance any explanation of why they did it. His Honor said these cases gave the Court very great anxiety. Each of the accused had previous convictions for dishonesty. Each would ,be ordered to be detained for reformative purposes for 12 months. In His Honor's opinion detention in a prison camp in the country would be more beneficial to these young men than anywhere else. Probation Granted Two charges of forgery and two of uttering cheques at Kaikohe had been admitted by Rangi Hinga, aged 31, who had been remanded for inquiry into his Army record. His Honor said that Hinga had seen considerable service and no offence against honesty had been charged against him. The police reported that he was genuinely concerned to make full restitution. He would be admitted to probation for two years, required to take out a prohibition order, and to pay £6O within one month, £55 for restitution and £5 toward the costs of prosecution. On two charges of indecent assault on a male Charles Simmons, aged 22 (Mr Hart), was released on probation for three years on special conditions. DIVORCE GRANTED EX-SERVICEMAN'S PETITION JURY AWARDS £425 DAMAGES A petition for divorce on the ground of adultery was brought by a returned serviceman, Gordon Charles Reid, electrician (Mr Robinson) against lna Reid and William Edward Clarke, barman (Mr G. Skelton), before Mr Justice Fair and a jury yesterday. Petitioner claimed £750 damages from the corespondent. Mr Robinson said a defence had been filed to the allegation of adultery, hut it would not be proceeded with. Petitioner and respondent had kept company for about ten years before they were married in September, 1941, and petitioner went into camp ten days later. Most of the time before he went overseas in November, 1942. petitioner was in camp at Trentliain. While overseas he made a full allotment to his wife and also sent her sums of money he won at gambling. On his return to New Zealand in September, 1944, Mr Robinson continued, petitioner was not met by his wife, but he learned from her later what the position was between the wife and co-respondent. He tried to induce her to return and succeeded in persuading her for three days. However, the corespondent again interfered and the wife left.

' Evidence on the lines of counsel's p statement was given by the petitioner, i who said he had recovered a sum of 1 £3OO and a motor-car from his wife, the ' money being additional to other sums i sent while he was away, s No evidence was called by the deJ fence. There was no period of home life in t the present case, Mr Skelton said. It ' could hardly be termed ft happy marriage that was broken up. rhe jury ! might consider the petitioner had in ■ fact gained by getting rid of such a • wife. His Honor »#id the jury should con- ! sidor the factor of a man taking unfair advantage of his position in regard to the husband. The husband waß not at home to us© his influence against that of the co-respondent. The jury found for the petitioner, awarding £425 damages. Judgment was l entered accordingly with costs, and the petitioner was granted a decree nisi. NATIONAL PARTY (0.C.) WHANGAREI. Thursday The candidature of the sitting member, Mr A. J. Murdoch, for the next general election was confirmed unanimously at the annual meeting of the Marsden branch of the New Zealand National Party. About 100 delegates from all parts of the electorate attended. The following officers were elected:—Chairman, Mr J. Finlayson; vice-chairmen, Mr H. Beehre and Mr S. Crawford; executive committee, Messrs H. A. Havjrken, H. W. James, L. Garry, A. Franks, T. Woodman, A. M. Bradburn, H. Mav, Mrs H. May and Mrs S. Day. McKENZIE TRUST FUND Allocations totalling £4BOB for this year from net income up to March 31 last were approved at the annual meeting by theboard which was constituted to administer the £IOO,OOO trust created by Mr J. R. McKenzie in 1940 for charitable and educational purposes throughout New Zealand. A report re ceived at the meeting stated that £25.657 had been allocated according to the deed of trust since the creation of the trust. Allocations to national organisations and the larger amounts to organisations in the Auckland Province included the following:—New Zealand Returned Services Association, £1000; Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (including £3OO for Maori PJunket nurses), £1300; Advisory Board Federation of Health Camps, £66.3; Auckland Institute for the Care of Backward Children, £150; Flying Angel Missions to Seamen, Auckland, £80; National Committee Apostleship of the Soft. £4O, Auckland City Mission, £SO; Auckland Methodist Ce.nt.ral Missions, "Goodwill Industries", £.'ls; Salvation Army, £SO. FRAUD CHARGE DENIED A plea of not guilty was entered by Maurice O'Connor, aged 41, labourer (Mr Skelton), when he appeared before Messrs C. W. Lopdell and R. G. May, J.P.'s, charged with obtaining £SO bv falsely representing that he had landed a quantity of wire and that he required the money to clear the wire from the Customs Department. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed at £IOO, with one •urety of £IOO.