CAREER OF CRIME.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19363, 17 September 1934, Page 8

CAREER OF CRIME.

YOUNG MAN’S REOORD. “ ONE OF WORST CASES.” FALSE PRETENCES AND THEFT. “ He lias probably the worst criminal record of any man of his age I have come in contact with," stated Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson, in Uitf Hamilton Alagistrate’s Court, he-, fore Air F„ W. Platts, S.M., to-day, referring to Randall James Ferguson (22), farm labourer, with several aliases, who admitted three charges of false pretences, two charges of theft and one charge of attempted false pretences. The offences to which Ferguson pleaded guilty were:' —(1) On September 6, at Rotorua, obtaining- from Oswald Henry Coleman a tweed sac suit, a felt hat and a shirt, of a total value of £3 Is 6d, by means of a valueless cheque; (2) on August 18, at Pukehinau, stealing £7 10s in money, the property of George McKay, farmer; (3) on August 22, at Auckland. obtaining from Ernest Payne Liddell two suits of clothes, valued at £ll Is, by falsely representing that his mother was staying at the Hotel Auckland and he wished to show her the suits before making a final selection; (4) on August 24, at Devonport, stealing a purse and contents valued at £3 15s 2d, the property of Isallne Atkin; (5) on August 28, at Auckland, attempting to obtain from Ray Gillies Bennett £l4 in money by means of a valueless cheque; and (6) on August 30, at Hamilton, obtaining from Robson and Company, a quantity of clothing of a total value of £l3 8s lid by falsely representing that his mother was Airs B. R. Long, of River Road, and that he wished to show her The goods before purchasing them.

Admission by Accused.

In a series of statements concerning the offences, Feifguson said he was working on his step-father’s farm when he stole money totalling £7 10s from a box. At Auckland and Hamilton he obtained clothes on approval by falsely representing that he wished his mother to see them before purchasing.

Detective-Sergeant Thompson said the accused was released on probationary license from the Invercargill Borstal Institute on February 22. He reported lo the probation officer until June 16 and then cleared out. Nothing was heat’d of him for some time and he was arrested by the Rotorua police on September 6. Air Thompson read out a lengthy list of previous convictions, involving several terms in gaol, and dating back to 1925, when the accused was only 13 years of age. “ In this case you have a bad record extending over a number of years,” said the .Magistrate to the accused. “ All efforts made to turn you from a criminal course have so far proved ineffective."

The accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment to be followed by two years’ reformative detention.