"GOOD TRAITS"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 21, 7 June 1939, Page 5

"GOOD TRAITS"

MOST OFFENDERS TE PUKE BURGLARS SENTENCED "My experience lias been that most offenders wha come up for sentence have sonic good traits in, their character—and some have some very bod traits, '* declared Mr Justice Fair in the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Thursday during his hearing of counsel's submission on behalf of Sydney Gordon lloss (29) and Bernard Andrew Mcßrearty (23) who appeared for sentence on charges of by night breaking and entering Patterson's Bargain Stores at Te Puke, where they stole £120, and the countinghouse of the Tuakau Town Board, where they stole money and articles i valued at £59. Ross had also admitted a charge ot receiving and Mcßrearty a charge of theft. Both were represented by .Mr Moody. Ross was sent to prison, for three years and nine months, and Mcßrearty to reformative detention for three years. Mr Moody said the records of both men were fairly eloquent, but he had found at least one remaining spark of decency between them. That was shown, by the fact that Mcßrearty had wanted to take the blame for all the but Ross had refused to allow it, saying he was equally guilty Counsel made a plea that they should not be declared habitual criminals. If his Honour 1 could show them some leniency it might be the first step in their return to the right way of living. The judge told Ross his record was a bad one and a,lmost indicated that he was determined to taike up ciime as a profession. He must receive a substantial sentence. Mcßreaity's position was a little different—lie was younger, and there was move hope that he would try to reform. Only one conviction had previously been recorded against him.