SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1932, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL CASES,

PRISONERS SENTENCED

CHRISTCHURCH, May. 9

Leonard Walter Downing, Stanley Gibbard Hazeldiue, and A.'tnur William Vincent Wilson appeared for sentence on charges of breaking, entering, and theft. Tnese were the men concerned in the crime committed at the Club Hotel. Sydenham, some time ago, when a safe Was removed and thrown into the Waimakariri River, after the''contents had been removed

Counsel said that Wilson, who was aged 21 years, was married with one, child. Counsel asked for probation 0. Hazeldine, counsel said that once before he had been in trouble, for which he was sent to the Borstal. He was married and was 24 years of age. He had called at the police station voluntarily to give himself tip. Downing was said by counsel to tie married with three children. Ho had obtained a position since his present trouble and his employer was anxious to keep him. The Crown Prosecutor said that the offence was a serious one of its kind. Each prisoner was sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment, his Honour adding that it would depend on their conduct how' long they were detained

Two Years’ Probation. Augustus Patrick Barrett, who had been found guilty of receiving, was ,admitted to probation for two years';" 'on condition that lie pay the costs of the prosecution, amounting to £l3 9s fid, and made restitution to the satisfaction of the "Probation Officer. Another condition was that lie give up his occupation of showman. ,

False Declaration,

For having made a false declaration, regarding a quantity of furniture destroyed in a fire, which, if made in a judicial case would have amounted to perjury, Daniel James McCallum was admitted to probation for one year, his Honour stating that there- was no doubt, in his mind that prisoner was suffering from the effects of war injuries when he acted as he did, being thus unable to take a normal view of his action.

A Year’s Imprisonment. “This mail was on license when he committed the offence,” said the Crown Prosecutor of Frederick Burger Clark, aged 34, a married man with two children. who appeared to be sentenced for breaking, entering, and theft. Observing that prisoner Lad three previous convictions for similar offences liis Honour..sentenced.him. to one year';, imprisonment.

Brothers Sentenced On each of two charges of breaking entering, and theft, God toy Walter Beumelburg was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, the sentences L he concurrent. Samuel Mark Reiunelbueg, on a similar charge, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Receiving. Drink was blamed by counsel for the downfall of Robert Douglas Lumsd n a single man, aged 41, who bad been found guilty of receiving. He bad been recommended for mercy by the jury wli'eh heard tile ease.

The Crown Prosecutor said that prisoner bad no .previous record.

Prisoner was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within two years. He was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, amounting to £9 2s fid, and to make restitution to the satisfaction of the Probation Officer. He, was also ordered to take out a prohibition order against himself.

Reformative Treatment. A recommendation that probation should be granted Arthur John Rogers, aged 27, married, was made by lb jur*y, but bis Honour stated that when this was done the jury did not know m prisoner’s record The charge against Rogers was that he had obtained coal am] a sum of money by false pretences.

A sentence of twelve months’ reformative treatment was imposed.

Due to Drink, A sentence of three months’ iinp-is-oiiment was imposed on Hairy Thomas Betts, a seaman, who had pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to an attempt to break into a shop with intent to commit a crime. The offence took place on a Saturday .night, about 9.39 in r well lighted area it: St. Asaph street The Crown Prosecutor said that the lapse was due to drink.

Out of Work. iTliat he bad been out of work for seven months and -onld not contemplate the thought of bis wife and children facing the winter without nod and clothing was the reason attributed by Thomas George Towuley, against whom wore two charges of breaking, entering.' and theft. He bad entered a plea o r guilty in f lic Magistrate's Court.

“The police,’ report concerning this man is not too good but lie lias no previous convictions,” said the Crown Prosecutor, who added that the <rime was a serious one.

Prisoner was sentenced fo niim months’ imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent

Plea Ignored. A personal plea for leniency was

made by Leslie Harold Calvert, aged 25, who had come up lev sentence on a charge of having falsely stated that lie had not received a postal packet ontnining a sum of money addressed to him. The Crown Prosecutor stated that on a previous occasion when prisoner was on probation he had gone to Australia. Calvert was sent to gaol for three months.