LONGER TERM TO SERVE

Southland Times, Issue 23651, 28 October 1938, Page 9

LONGER TERM TO SERVE

BORSTAL ESCAPEES SENTENCED ADVICE GIVEN BY MAGISTRATE Robert Clarence Clarke and Kurei Moni appeared in the Magistrate s Court yesterday before Mr R. C. Abernethy, S.M., for sentence on charges of escaping from the Borstal Institution and oi stealing wearing apparel, converting a motor-van to their own use and stealing a case of apples and a petrol tin. Asked if he had anything to say, Clarke said that when he came to the institution he had every intention of settling down to do his best, but thmgs had been a little more difficult than he had expected. “I thought I had worked and behaved the same as most of the other fellows,” he added. After outlining the prisoner’s record the Magistrate remarked on _ Clarke s statement that he. had made his escape on the spur of the moment “I am afraid I don’t believe that” Mr Abernethy said. “Giving you a chance on your own word, the superintendent let you out on a working party, as he probably does with boys in the institution. You know as well as I do that it is not impossible for a boy to escape from the institution. It is not a prison of the older days. Boys are placed on trust, and an opportunity is given them to rehabilitate themselves. If they abuse that trust they have to be punished, and it is my duty to make it unattractive for boys to escape. At the same time, as I told you before and as you know, any boy, no matter how long he is in Borstal for, can by his behaviour so impress the superintendent, the visiting committee and the board which decides these matters that his sentence can be substantially reduced. I have had a number of boys before me who have behaved themselves and have had their sentences reduced. Now, it is going to lie with you. My duty to the public is to see that Borstal inmates don’t think that they can escape lightly. These escapes cost the State money, and you commit further crimes. You have committed a crime since you got out that entitles you to five years more in the Borstal. You have had chances before, and you have committed serious crimes and have put the country to considerable expense.” On the charge of escaping from the Borstal Institution on September 29, 1938, the prisoner was convicted and ordered to be detained for one year, cumulative on the present sentence. On the second charge of escaping he was sentenced to a further term of one year, cumulative upon the other sentences.

“That means you have three years already and two more years this morning,” added the Magistrate. “It lies with you whether you can have that very substantially reduced.” On the charges of theft and conversion of the car the prisoner was convicted and discharged. The Magistrate said that the same remarks applied to the other prisoner. He had a black record, but it did not matter how black his record had been, he could reduce his sentence if he behaved himself. Neither he nor Clarke had taken advantage of the chances that had been given them. For escaping from the institution he would be sentenced to one year’s detention, cumulative on the present sentence, and on the other charges he was convicted and discharged.