YOUNG MEN IN TROUBLE.

Otaki Mail, 6 March 1922, Page 3

YOUNG MEN IN TROUBLE.

THEFT AT PAEKAKARIKI. Youthful though they are, a remarkable record is that possessed by two young men, Lawrence Egmont Windsor, who appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at Wellington on a charge of breaking and entering, and four charges of theft. Mr A. M. Cousins represented them and Sub-Inspec-tor McNamara prosecuted. John Sidney Smith, farmer at Paekakariki, entered the box. On the 14th of last month his son, who resided with him, had left the house at about 4 a.m. to go mustering. Shortly before 6 o ’clock on that morning witness had arisen and gone into the kitchen. There he had found that a box of food, usually in the pantry, was in the back yard. A coat belonging to him had also been taken out into the back yard, and from it his watch wgs missing. He identified the watch produced as his own. Searching further, he missed his hat, and identified it as the one in court. The value of these articles at a low estimate was £2 ss. He knew neither of the accused. On his retirement on the night of the 13th all windows and doors had been shut, Frank A. Smith, son of the last witness, had left the house at the early hour stated on February 14th. He left, by the kitchen door, which had been locked.

To Mr Cousins: He would not be prepared to deny the accused men’s

statement that the door was open on their arrival. Constable O’Donnell, stationed at Jonshonville, had arrested both the accused at about 11.15 a.m. on February 14th last at Pahautanui. Searching the men, he found the watch and hat produced. Joseph Windsor gave his name as James Smith; the other man gave his correct name. Lawrence Egmont Windsor expressing a desire 16 give evidence, he was put in. the box. With his brother lie had visited Smith’s house on. the morn-

iug the the 14th. Pushing a cycle up the road they had seen the back door of the house to be ajar. He had entered the house. To Mr McNamara: He had taken the bicycle from outside a gate in Palmerston.

"It is no use addressing this court on the subject, ’’. said His ’ Worship. ffThp case against the accused may not be very strong, but it has been made out. 1 ’ The two men were committee for trial, both pleading not guilty. SubInspector McNamara asking that bail should be made substantial, it was fixed at £IOO for each man.

Four charges of theft of various -articles, of a total value of £4 0s 6d, all on February 14th, at Paekakariki, were also preferred against the two young men. To these they entered a plea of guilty.

“ These young men -came down from the country,” said Mr McNamara. "They were in Hawkers Pay, then in WpodviJle, and went on through Palmerston North to Paekakariki, They committed these offences jointly: were cycling together, and the whole qr the property stolen was found upon them when they were se.arched by Constable O ’Dpnnelh I‘They started put quite early in life. Jpseph made his first appearance in court in 1908, at the age of ten; Soma time- later hp was mixed up in a series of thefts, and received four years' reformative detention. Lawrence has also been committed to Weraroa, from which he escaped in 1916. In 1918 he received a sentence of two years’ reformative detention on a charge of breaking and entering. Jn 1919 he es-i (taped from ’the Borstal institution af-ter-serving fifteen months, and received a further sentence. They' started out TeaOy in earnest" a few years ago) and donH seem to have’ mended their ways at all.”

“■" One' df I 'these men has had two years J . reformative treatment, and it . dpesa'e seem to have done him much good,” remarked the bench. "The other is jjust the but h» has had