FAMILY OF CRIMINALS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 41, 11 May 1927, Page 13

FAMILY OF CRIMINALS

“HONOUR AMONG THIEVES” STIFF SENTENCES PASSED Press Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, To-day. Frederick Joseph Windsor, Lawrence Egmont "Windsor and Albert George Windsor, three brothers who reversed a lower court plea of “not guilty” in the Supreme Court yesterday with regard to breaking and entering at Levin and Pahiatua railway stations and the Otaki dairy factory, stealing money exceeding £IOO, appeared this morning before Mr. Justice Alpers for sentence. “Prisoners,” stated his Honour, “you began your career of crime when mere boys, and have followed it consistently ever since. Other members of your family are criminals, and apparently you constitute a definite criminal family which is, fortunately, rare in the history of New Zealand. You are already undergoing a term of imprisonment. Breaking and entering, apparently, has been your method in pursuit of crime.” Joseph Frederick Windsor and Lawrence Egmont Windsor were then sentenced to hard labour for five years on each of the three charges, sentences to be concurrent and to commence at the expiry of the present sentences which the accused are serv-

Turning attention to Albert George Windsor the Judge referred to him as not only an impudent hardened criminal, but a despicable one as well, for when his brothers were arrested they had lied manfully, “but when you were arrested,” continued his Honour, “you cringed and made a statement implicating your brothers in the crime—your brothers in blood—thereby trying to curry favour with the police, but I do not think that the Police Force of New Zealand is such that it needs such help as you gave, or requires assistance from one of your sort. I suppose when you come out you will resume your old criminal life once more, but when you come out remember the old adage, “There is honour among thieves.” Albert George Windsor was thereupon sentenced similarly to his brothers.