Receiver of Pillaged Goods Gaoled

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 1

Receiver of Pillaged Goods Gaoled

SIX MONTHS’ PRISON AN EXEMPLARY SENTENCE Found guilty of receiving stolen property, Newell Harry Williams (Mr. J. J. Sullivan) appeared before Mr. Justice Stringer in the Supreme Court this morning for sentence. Prisoner was described by his counsel as having previously borne an unblemished character. This was his first offence and counsel asked that the recommendation of mercy brought in by the jury be given effect to in the form of probation. Air. Paterson, for the Crown, said a serious feature of the crime was that pillaging on the waterfront had been responsible, during the last few weeks, for the loss of £4.000 worth of goods. It was necessary that something should be done. His Honour pointed out that the prisoner had not been found guilty of stealing. “It is certainly suspicious, however,” remarked his Honour, “but I must find in accordance with the verdict. I regret that I cannot see my way clear to admit the prisoner to probation. “It is of course obvious that thefts from discharging vessels is very rife, and they are also offences which are difficult to detect. “The circumstances point strongly to the fact that the prisoner took part in the actual thefts, but I will accept the finding of the jury and will also give effect to its recommendation. “I must confess I don’t understand on what grounds that was made, but bearing in mind the necessity for an exemplary sentence, thep rlsoner will go to gaol for six months.”