THE “GANGSTERS.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18628, 25 July 1930, Page 12

THE “GANGSTERS.”

CAMBRIDGE FIRE GANG SENTENCED. HAMILTON. July 24. The Hamilton Supreme Court was crowded this morning with interested spectators, when six of the ten Cambridge “gangsters,” who pleaded guilty to arson, theft, and mischief, came before Mr Justice Herdman for sentence. The charges to which the accused had pleaded guilty were:— John Meredith, one charge of arson, two of theft. E. D. Brown, six of arson, one of attempted arson, one of mischief, and two of theft. Alfred D. Brown, five of arson, two of theft. H. C. Hall, six of arson, two of misj chief, one of theft. ! John V. Featherstone, seven of arson, | one of attempted arson, two of mis- | chief, three of theft. 1 W. S. Goodall, two of arson, one of theft. The two Browns, Meredith and Hall i were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour on the ! arson charge, to be followed by reform- ; ative detention not exceeding three years. On each of the other charges they were sentenced to one month’s hard labour, the sentence to be concurrent with the other term of imi prisonment. Featherstone and Goodall were each ordered to be detained in a Borstal j Institute for a term not exceeding ‘ three years on the arson charge, and j sentenced to one month's hard labour ) on each of the other charges, the sen- ! fences to be concurrent. His Honor remarked that no doubt the prison authorities would see that the young men were not detained in j the same institutions. Judge’s Comment. I Addressing the prisoners, his Honor 1 said he was puzzled to account for the j extraordinary outbreak of crime. It i was not want that had driven them to commit the serious offences to which they had pleaded guilty, nor did ! it appear to be a desire for gain. Moreover, it was not a sudden impulse that . had caused them to go from place to I place committing acts of destruction.

His Honor said he could find no excuse for the conduct of the accused, and could think of nothing that would explain it excepting definite criminal instinct. They had acted deliberately and systematically, and the depositions showed that for months they had been engaged in a campaign of destruction and theft. How long they would have continued committing these acts of crime had they not been arrested was difficult to say. “Fortunately,” added his Honor,

“the vigilance of the detective officers stationed in Hamilton, whose ability and efficiency are deserving of praise, brought you to justice, and it is now for me to make sure that for some time, at any rate, you will not be able to repeat your past performances.” Proceeding, his Honor said buildings had gone up in smoke, stacks had been burned, a car had been set fire to, another car had been thrown into a river, property to the value of £4OOO had been destroyed—an amazing record for a band of young men. “It is not often in New Zealand that a Judge has such a series of offences to consider, or such a collection of young criminals to deal with. One thing is certain: you must be punished. and in such a way that other men may be deterred from imitating your example.”