EIGHT THEFT CHARGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 163, 16 July 1946, Page 3

EIGHT THEFT CHARGES

WANGANUI HOMES BURGLED TWO YEARS’ BORSTAL TERM. A career of crime, from January 1 of this year, involving two instances of house-breaking (reduced to theft) and six of theft, brought Walter Llewellyn Wilson, aged 20, a labourer of Heads Road, before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Wanganui Magistrate's Court yesterday. The accused pleaded’guilty in al! to eight charges and was committed tc Borstal for I' _;ars on two of the charges, , conv,?, I on the remaining six, and ordered to come up for sentence within two years if called upon Tile charges were: On June 20 breaking and entering the house of Mrs. E. Brown, 22 Cumbrae .Street, and committing theft; on July 1 stealing clothing valued at £4 10s, the property of J. C. Brown; on June 21. stealing three packets of ammunition, valued at 13s 6.1, the property of Wnham Alexander Mason; on March 1, stealing an overcoat valued at £5 10s' from an unknown person; on January 1, an overcoat valued at £7. from an unknown person; on February 9 a bicycle valued at £lO, the property of D. H. Walker; on June 20, breaking and entering the home of Sister E Park, 3 Sydney Place, and committ.ng theft; on March 31, stealing t headlight, valued at 4s 6d, the pro perty of Peter Smith. All the offence.were committed in Wanganui. Evidence was given by Detective L B. Vasta, who read a statement made to him by accused. This statement ex plained how Wilson called at 22 Cum brae Street, to leave a parcel for his employers. Nobody was at home so he entered the house and removed -ev eral pieces of jewellery, valued at be tween £3 and £4, all of which were recovered. A similar state of affairs prevailed in the case of a daylight entry into Sister Park’s house’ The detective stated that money taken had been spent, but the goods of a value of £3, had been recovered. The Magistrate announced his intention to reduce these two to charges theft—in the case of Mrs. Brown's property, the theft of brooches and tiepins, and in S'ster Park’s case, clothing and money. ho was surprised to hear he had been The owners had been traced for the two coats, which were removed from ears. Neither fitted the accused, stated Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson. When questioned, Wilson was still in possession of the cycle he had converted. To this cycle he fitted a light removed from another cycle. The am munition was stolen and given to his father, who accused claimed had disposed of it for him, the detectivesergeant continued. The clothing stolen from J. C. Brown was removed from a shed of a house accused had called at to deliver some goods. “His history shows that he is weak mentally, and spent two years in mental institutions, returning to nis home last August,” Detective-Sergeant Robertson stated.

‘This is both a di.fficult and unfortunate cage,” said Mr. R. E. Jack, who appeared for accused. “During the period of these offences accused lived with his father, who did not apparently have the correct guiding influence, and is now doing six months on a maintenance charge, and has been before the court for theft.” Accused had had trouble in securing a job because of his mental weakness and a back injury. Tn all cases the thefts were small and were obviously not premeditated. Mr. Jack claimed. A former employer of the accused said in evidence to the Court that Wilson had proved a good worker and had been most conscientious. He was prepared to take him back on in a job whore he could be under supervision, but not out on the delivery round. Accused responded <o sympathetic treatment, the employer believed. and seemed ; n need of it. Al- - hough he knew of Wilson’s record, he was surprised Io head he had been committing the thefts, for otherwise he had been a satisfactory worker. FLEA BY COUNSEL. Because of the circumstances, Mr Jack asked the Magistrate if he could place Wilson under observation at a mental inut tution. If lhe authorities there rented satisfactorily on his condition, orobation could reasonably be granted, counsel suggested, and Wilson given another chance to rehabilitate himself. “These cases represent a great deal of trouble, but the Court has a duty, not only to the young accused, but also to the general public,” said the Magistrate. “I have the history of this lad’s career. He is just over 20 now, and was in the Children’s Court at the age of 12. He has been before the Children’s Court twice since then, and was sent to a school for backward boys. Released to a farmer under licence, he proved troublesome and was committed to a mental institution. “Lack of parental control, particularly on the part of the father, appears to have been the trouble, mainly,” Mr. Salmon continued. “Last August he received a discharge from that mental home, and because of that discharge, he must be regarded as responsible for his actions.” “It would be impossible to send the accused back to his indulgent employer, even though he is prepared to take him back. I have a duty to the public, to perform, and under the circumstances the action suggested is not leasable. “I hesitate to send a young person to gaol, but fortunately, there is an institution half-way between prison and an asylum, and that is Borstal. “This is essentially a case for Borstal, when he will get a thorough checking over, mentally and physically.” lhe Magistrate concluded in passing sentence.