BULLS BANK ROBBERY

Chronicle (Levin), 15 May 1946, Page 7

BULLS BANK ROBBERY

Press Associcition

THREE ACCUSED SENTENCED

By Telegraph —

WANGANUI, May .14. Describing the Bulls bank robbery as a very grave oll'ence calling for the utmost severity, Sir Archibald Blair, in Ihe Supreme Court today, sentenced Kaymond Edward Mclntosh, garage attendant,' aged twcnty-two, wliom His Honour referred to as the master niind, to Iive years' refonnative detention. A similar sentence was, imposcd on William Laurenee Burke, labourer, aged twenty, who His Honour said liad an unbleinished record but who fired the rtvolver when the bank was held up. . Ivenneth 1-Iardy ^randon, freezing worker, aged twenty, His Honour said also had an unbleinished record till this crime. He was sentenced to two years ' refonnative detention. Each of . the three prisoners had pleaded guiltv in the Magistrate's Court, Palmerston North, to a chargo that on March 25 at' Bulls, being anned witli a iSten guu and two revolvers, tliey robbed Ivenneth Ilubert Allen, bank teller, of the suin of £2198, the property of tlie Bank of New Zealand. ■Mclntosh* was sentenced to oue vear's refonnative detention for breaking and catering and two montlis for unlawful car conversion. Burke was sentenced to six nionths' detention for breaking and entering and two nionths for car conversion. Brandon was sentenced to two moiLlhs' detention for car conversion. liis Honour directed that all sentences be cumulativo and added that he had imposed refonnative detention, wliich was the same in eil'ect as iniprisonment, so that the cases would be reviewcd by the, Drisoiis' Board if the prisoners showed- a desire to reform. "These three men wlio are iittle more llian boys, appear to liave planncd to l.old up the bank but oue iinds it difficult to answer why, ' ' said Mr. A. M. [ Ongley, who appeared for Mclutosh. j "But lmving niade up tlieir lninds tliey l appeared to liavo funked the doiug of! it. Tliey had a look at the bank and; tlicn drove awav to Marton. Appareutly (hey would liave been glad to abandon Ihe idea but lacked Ihe luoral j rourage (o do so." TJie prisonors had i an underlakiiig betwecn thein tiiat tliei iiiearms wero not to be used. The Sleuj gun was iiieireclive bocause liiere wasi no amiiiuuitioii for it. JMclnlosh was| under tlie inipression lliat no iirearms • would bo used but 1111 fort unateiy oue of - Ihe party lost liis liead aud iu intiniiilaling tlie bank teller, Jirod. liis Honour: Was that Burke? Couusel: 1 uudersland so but the evi- j dciioe is not very clear. It ccrtainlyj was not Mclntosh. j

Mr. L. Laureusoa matlo a plca on belialf dl* Burke and said timi the prisouer's youth may liave had soiuething li. do witli wliat happened. All Ihe depositions suggested timi Burke was not Ihe master mimi. Uiiforluiialely Burke was Ihe inan wlio disehargod tlie iireariu, said couusel, but tiro teller was only iive foet away. Had there becn any alteinpt to iujure him it would liave been very simple not' to liave missed. ' ■ " , " Erom the division of Ihe spoiis it would appear that Brandon was a willing tool, " said Mr. G. M. Crossley when iVutking a pliiii for Brandon. Counsel said Brandon had held tlie Bten gun but ii would not work a'iid Ihe Anns Otlicc oi the i'olice Dopartnient cbuld not nutke it work. When Brandon was uiresled he made a fnll eonfession and since had. made the fullest restilution. Biandon was engaged to be married at the time of tlie offeiice, and had been married since he had been iu prison. The young woiuan, knowing of his probabilitios, had courageously consentcu to marrv him. liis Honour: Wliat was tlie idca of rushing it ? That was a ratlier unusual course. Counsei replied that representations had iieen made to the paronts of botli ■ bride and grooin and tlie decision was made by tlie department. Karlier a jury in tlie Nupreme Courtacquittcd Mclntosh and Burke of liold- : ing up tlie proprictor of the Kutlaud ! llotel at revolver point aird robbing him oi a suin of nionev. His Honour in- j timated tiial there was insutiicient cvideuce to convict. rriie jury was absont two hours before bringing in a verdict I of not guilty.