STOLEN BABBIT SKINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 3

STOLEN BABBIT SKINS

CHARGES 0F RECEIVING TWO MEN SENTENCED f Found guilty on Saturday of haying received a quantity of rabbit skins knowing them to have been stolen, Gordon Donald Mcßae and Harry Gordon appeared for sentence before Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court yesterday. Mcßae was ordered to be detained for'reformative purposes for nine months and Gordon was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. Mr E. JV Anderson appeared for M'Rae, and Mr J, G. Warrington for Gordon. ■. ' , On Mcßae's behalf Mr Anderson said that apart from a hot-headed outburst which had resulted in_ his being fined for using obscene language, he had ho previous convictions. He had never had the advantage of a normal, steady home, and had developed a' certain irresponsibility; The present charge, however, would probably make him realise his folly, and in the circumstances, counsel asked the court to deal with him as leniently as possible. '■■ .. For Gordon, Mr Warrington said that throughout the, evidence, there was no suspicion that his client had been involved in the theft of the skins. The probation officer's report showed that drink was his trouble, but he now realised where his drinking habits had led him, and if given an opportunity of getting back into steady work, he would endeavour to make good. His Honor said that the report on Mcßae showed that he had been drifting into improper, bad associations. In the circumstances, however, he would be ordered detention in an institution and given'an opportunity to retrieve himself as early as possible. He would be ordered to be detained for reformative purposes for nine months. Taking into account Gordon's later association with some of the stolen goods, his Honor sentenced him to six months' imprisonment with hard labour.