PRISONERS SENTENCED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26772, 15 May 1948, Page 2

PRISONERS SENTENCED

BREAKING AND ENTERING OFFENCES SUPREME COURT SITTING Eleven prisoners appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence before Mr Justice Kennedy. Five of them had been involved in breaking and entering charges and four had committed sexual offences. “ This crime was committed with a much younger associate. From the report before me it would appear that you have been doing this kind of thing for a long time,” said his Honor in sentencing Robert Wark Johnston, aged 24, to imprisonment for 15 months with hard labour, the sentences to be concurrent with any at present being served. Johnston appeared with Colin Charles Kirkwood Dunsmuir, aged 20, both having been found guilty of breaking and entering the premises of Moncrieff and Stewart with the intent to commit a crime. The prisoners were represented by Mr J. P. Cook. To Dunsmuir, the. judge said: ‘ I cannot disguise the fact that you are guilty of a great deal of this kind of thing, young as you are. Notwithstanding your past record, I propose, chiefly on account of your youth, to give you an early chance of making good.” Dunsmuir was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Theft of Wheat James Alexander Stevenson, aged 35 (Mr C. J. L. White), and John Walker, aged 28 (Mr J. G. Warrington), appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to the theft of sacks of wheat at the Dunedin wharves. Stevenson was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for six months, and Walker was given imprisonment with hard labour for four months. "I am afraid that offences of this nature are too common, and there is much thieving of goods in transit,” his Honor said. ” They can only be stopped by prompt detection and suitable punishment.” Headmaster’s Offence David Wylie Bews, aged 49 (Mr J. H. Main, of Oamaru), on four charges of indecent asault on males, was sentenced to reformative detention for two years and six months on each charge, the sentences to be served concurrently. Counsel said that Bews had been headmaster of the Otautau Public School when the offences were committed. He had been held in high regard as a schoolmaster, and his career had been ruined. For the Crown, Mr J. B. Deakcr told his Honor that a letter had been received from the Education Department mentioning the high regard in which the accused was held in his profession. Caught Red-handed “You were caught red-handed ransacking the place when the owners returned,” said his Honor, addressing Raymond James Fahey, aged 24, who was found guilty of breaking and entering a dwelling house with intent to commit a crime. Fahey’s counsel, Wfc F. W. Guest, said that one of the real causes of the prisoner’s lapse was his addiction to alcohol. Fahey was sentenced to reformative detention for 18 months. Unlawful Carnal Knowledge For having unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 16 years, Colin Raymond Wills, aged 36 (Mr C. J. L. White), was sentenced to reformative detention for two years. Passing sentence, his Honor described the case as particularly bad, and one which, unfortunately, did not stand alone. Two Charges 1 Angus Donoghue appeared for sentence on charges of unlawfully converting a motor car, and breaking and entering and • committing theft. Directing that Donoghue should be detained for reformative purposes for one year on each charge, the sentences to be served concurrently, the judge said the prisoner was still a young man, but during the last eight years he had been indulging a great deal in dishonest practices. The prisoner had nothing to say. Two Years’ Probation “ I have concluded that the Probation Officer’s recommendation is a right one,” said his Honor when Clive Roimata Gibbard, aged 42, faced two charges of breaking and entering and committing theft. Gibbard was released on probation for two years with special conditions that he paid the costs of the prosecution, made restitution of the stolen property, and took out a prohibition order against himself. Indecent Assault Albert Henry Sands, aged 31, who was represented by Mr D. A. Solomon, was sentenced to one year’s • reformative detention for indecent assault on a male. “ Isolated ” Offence “The reports show that the offence is isolated and scarcely represents the kind of person you seem to be,” his Honor said when Raymond Charles Barnes, aged 25 (Mr J. G. Warrington), appeared for sentence for indecent assault on a male. The prisoner was released on probation for two years, with special conditions that he should pay the cost of the prosecution and should not associate with young. children.