AN UNDESIRABLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19965, 6 December 1926, Page 6

AN UNDESIRABLE.

BURGLARY AND ARSON. YOUNG GERMAN’S CRIMES. (Special to *-aily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. “I would be glad to send him back to Germany,” aid his Honor Mr Justice Stringer in the Supreme Court to-day, in sentencing Rudolph Kreft, a young German, to seven years’ imprisonment forbreaking, entering, theft, and arson at Kaiapoi. Rudolph Kreft and Albert Henry A. Gordon were concerned in a burglary escapade at Kaiapoi on November 24, and Kreft pleaded guilty to burglary as well as to arson. Gordon <as admitted to probation for a term of two years, his father being asked to enter into a bond of £IOO £or his good behaviour during the probation period. Mr Gresson, who appeared for Gordon, said that Kreft was responsible for a good deal of the crime. His Honor: It seems that Gordon has drifted into the very undesirable company

of Kreft, who seems to have gone about the country setting fire to places and acting in an irresponsible way. The Crown Prosecutor said that Kreft was not normal. The nature of the crimes showed that, but he was responsible for his actions. He had been in Kaiapoi for about two years. “I don’t know how to speak, sir,” said Krept, when asked if he had anything to say. His Honor said that Kreft had not been long in New Zealand and that he would be glad to send him back to Germany. He could lock him up for the rest of his life under the Act, but was loath to inflict such a penalty. As the prisoner was not represented by counsel the case was adjourned while the probation officer (Mr F. Rule) conferred with Kreft. “He thinks quite well in German,” reported Mr Rule, “but cannot express himself in English. He did not understand every word I said to him,-but he is capable of deciding his own actions, and is responsible for them. He says that Gordon, by suggesting and talking a lot about setting fire to houses, was responsible for his committing the offences.” His Honor: 1 do not believe the latter part of his story, for he is of a type distinctly different from Gordon. He will be given a substantial term of imprisonment, and the Prisons Board can investigate the case more thoroughly later ami Jecide tho question of repatriation.