PRISON CAMPS ESCAPADES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 35, 25 February 1937, Page 9

PRISON CAMPS ESCAPADES

Prets Asaoclstion.)

Jury SuRgests Precautions Insufficient VERDICTS RETURNED

(By. Teleerraph— !

WANGANUI, Last Nxght. !fiie seriea of trials of prisoners from various camps in the -National Park area was concluded in the Supreme Court to,day before Mr Justicc Smith.^ Tlier© were fciur trials in 411 and evidcnce was callCd in. each to show that the prisoners were able to break camp and return before being unlocked in the morning. Accused were charged in the main with breaking and entering and theft. In oue case a charge of receiving stolen goods was preferred as an alternative to breaking and entering and in anot.her unlawful conversion of a csir was an additional charge. Ia the .first three triali the jury xeturned verdicts of guilty and in oue case of receiving 'stolen goods. .. In the fourth trial, how* ,ever, in which two accused were charg|ed jointly with unlawful conversion of a eer belonging - to. the manager of Ch&teau Tongariro,, and with breaking and entering McKee 's stora at Owhango and stealing . theref rom 'a quantity of .goods and money of a total value of £104, a verdiet of not guilty, was . returned and the jury added the followingi irider: 'We would respectfully. suggesti that for the safety of storekeepers inl ithe district, the authorities coneernedi sbould investigate eertain of the stateimeuts made in evidence regarding .the. facilities afforded prisoners in these1 camps and sub-camps and the precaujtions taken in regard to their . eonfineuaent after working hours. ' ' His Honour said he would soe that ithe rider was directed. to the proper! quarter. As a resoit oi tho : fo*r trials, thei following verdicts were eutered:— Hugh Simons, fonnd guilty of ; breaking, entering and theft from Taylor'a store, Turangi, on November 14, and' again on January 2; also with committing mischief Hori Wharepapa, found guilty of! breaking and entering the.same store oa January 2 and with oommitting mischief. ■ r~ * George Henry Trillo, found goilty of breaking and' entering Taylor's store but gnilty of receiving stolen goods. • The two accused - acquitted of breaking and entering McKee's store ati Owhango on December 7 "7 were Harry Thomas Botts and John Joseph Morris. In connection. with these oflenees two' other prisoners pleaded guilty. ; L. E. E. Garner and Albert Harriaj jboth .wero charged with breaking and! entering McKee's store at Owhango otu December 7 and eommitting theft and also with GoavertiBg to their own use a ear belonging to the manager oi Chateau Tongariro, These two have been sentenced for Siese oflenees getting eighteen months* hard labour on the breaking and entering charge to be euanulativO on the sentenee they are already serving, and six months' on the car conversion connt to be cnmulative lOn the present sentenee bnt concurrent jwith the eighteen months' jppt ordered,