Young Man Sent To Borstal for Theft

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 2

Young Man Sent To Borstal for Theft

PREVIOUS OFFENCES (Special to “Times.”) NAPIER, Jan. 26. Rotated leniency on the part of the Court ceased when Basil Victor Gerbies, of Napier, labourer, appeared before Mr J. Miller, S.M., in the Napier Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with the theft of a pair of opera glasses valued at 5/6, the property of Mr C. 11. Butcher, diaper, Canyle street. Gerbies, who had been before tho Court on charges of theft «n several occasions in the past, ploadeu not guilty, but was sentenced to two years 7 reformative detention in the Borstal Institute at Waikeria.. Detective-Sergeant H. Nuttall said that Mr Butcher had occasion to leave his shop. For some time Gerbies was left unattended, and the glasses disappeared. A small girl came later into the shop with the glasses, and they were recognised hy the owner. The girl lived at the game home as Gerbies.

Charles Harry Butcher, of Napier, general draper, identified the glasses by tho fact that tho focussing gear would not work. They had disappeared from a showcase in the men’s department, and witness later saw a small girl enter the shop with the glasses. Gerbies was questioned, and later brought back the glasses, which were broken, and explained that he had bought the glasses for 5/6 at a &hop in Hastings. That was the price at which they wero marked in witness’s shop. Accused, in tho witness-box, reiterated his statement that he had bought the glasses. Questioned by DetectiveSergeant Nuttall regarding the type of shop at which the glasses were bought, accused said he did not know. Most of his shopping had been done in the main street.

Trevor Hewett, brother-in-law of the accused, a labourer, said that accused had glasses in his possession when he lived at Havelock North. They were not very big, he added. When he had examined the pair produced in Court, ho could not identify them. He had had them over six months ago, and although ho had handled them he thought they were all right. “I have heard the evidence of the defence and his witness, and I am satisfied that the accused committed the offence. He does not know where he bought the glasses, and I cannot accept that,” said the Magistrate. “The purchase was a very* unusual one for him, and he would have remei Y, bwed it. He will bo convicted. *

“He is a peculiar type of young man,” said the detective-sergeant. “He lias been warned by us and the Court and the gaoler, and advised to go straight, but it seems that he cannot go straight. He frequently comes under our notice and has been told that if he does not stop this thing he knows where ho will end.”

“I gave you a chance before, and you immediately committed two thefts, and when you came out you again commit ted a theft,” said his Worship in pass ing sentence. “The only reason I consider you is because of your wife and children.' ’