TWENTY CHARGES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 386, 31 March 1932, Page 6

TWENTY CHARGES.

Wholesale Conversion and Theft. FIVE YOUTHS CONCERNED. The Magistrate faced a problem at Court this morning when dealing with five youths, all between IS and 21 years of age, who. pleaded guilty to a long list of charges, nearly all concerning the conversion or theft of motorcars, motor-cycles dr bicycles. Mr E. D. Mosley, SAL," who was on the Bench, said that the youth of the accused prevented him from sending them straight to prison, and in the end he remanded them for a week in custody so that he might give counsel’s plea for probation further consideration.

The accused were Gordon Charles Caesar, 19, labourer; Thomas Edward Calder, 19, upholsterer; William John Moore, IS, motor driver; Johnston Woodbine Moore, 22, metal worker; and Ronald Leslie Hart, 19, labourer. Calder faced no fewer than thirteen charges of conversion and theft, all connected with the conversion or theft of vehicles or their contents. Caesar faced six similar charges, W. J. Moore five, J. W. Moore two, and Hart three. Some of the charges were laid against two or more of the accused jointly, and in all the five men faced twenty counts. Caesar’s charges included one of receiving rugs, valued at £4, knowing them to be stolen. Chief-Detective Carroll said that all the offences were concerned with motor-cars, motor-cycles or bicycles. The cars had been recovered intact, but several of the motor-cycles and cycles had had parts and tools removed. “ The worst offence was in connection with a bicycle belonging to a man named Rudkin,” said the chief-detec-tive. “ They had no use for the frame, but they wantonly cut it up, then put the pieces over the wall of the Addington police station ! The men concerned with that offence were Calder, I-lart and Caesar. Four of these men have been before the Court before though not on serious offences. Johnston Woodbine Moore has had no previous offences.” The total restitution, he added, would amount to about £2O. Calder’s share would be £l2 9s, Caesar’s share £2 10s, Hart’s £2 10s, and the Moores’s £4 19s. Was Led Astray. Counsel for Caesar said that he had been brought up in a Salvation Army home and had done 1 well. Then he had gone to stay with Calder, and it was claimed that Calder led him astray. Caesar took his full share of the blame in ctitting up Rudkin’s bicycle. He had been in good employment and had excellent references from his employers. He had a job to go to and counsel asked for probation on his account.

Hart’s counsel said his client was only concerned in three charges. The conversion of the car and the motorcycle were the result of a foolish wish to joy ride. ITart was an accessory to the theft of Rudkin’s bicycle, but only received the handlebars as his share. He opposed the cutting up of the bicycle, which was insisted upon by Calder. He was in bad health and had a wife and an infant child dependent upon him. Calder was the ringleader. The men were not a gang, except that they were all friends of Calder’s. Counsel for the two Moores said that it had been a case with them of idle hands turning to mischief. They took no part in the wanton destruction mentioned. One was on relief work and the other would be allowed to go back to his work if the Court allowed it. No one appeared for Calder, but the Probation Officer said that perhaps Cassar and Hart had not been altogether without an influence on him. He was supporting his parents by relief work. “ Their youth is the only factor which might influence me to grant them probation,” said the Magistrate, j

“ Were, they not so young, they would go straight to gaol. That is what the offences merit, and no other punishment will meet the case. I re luctant to let them out on probation. It would mean a lot of responsibility for the Probation Officer, and also lor their parents and relatives. Thefts of this kind, linked . as in one instance with wanton destruction, deserve heavy punishment. The conversion of motorcars is all too common and must be met with severe punishment. That is the only way to check the offences. I will give the case of these youths further consideration.” The accused were remanded in custody till April 7.