THREE MEN SENTENCED FOR TOBACCO THEFTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 189, 31 October 1927, Page 16

THREE MEN SENTENCED FOR TOBACCO THEFTS

COUNSEL RESENTS “VIRULENT ATTACK” “Closing his mouth and putting his head down, he goes where he likes. We regard him as a dangerous criminal." Though he is only 24 years of age, Kenneth McQuoid has a reputation with the police. When he came up for sentence at the Supreme Coi/t to-day those remarks were made aoout him by Senior-Detective Hammond. With two other men, Ernest Clifford Rae and Francis Harry Rae, McQuoid was sentenced #or the theft of cigarettes and tobacco valued at £7B 4s from a warehouse. McQuoid is son-in-law to one of the Raes. Senior-Detective Hammond said that one of the Raes was a hotel porter who had never been in trouble before. McQuoid had been before the court for several thefts. There had been regular thefts from a warehouse at which he had been employed until he was “trapped” with stolen race tickets. His work of driving a lorry had made him familiar with other warehouses. “He won’t be spoken to, continued the detective, “and I think the Raes were led by him.” Mr. Matthews, for McQuoid: In view of the extremely virulent attack, may I inquire if these facts were brought before the magistrate?—l could not I say. counsel said that McQuoid's duties at the warehouse did not take him to any other warehouses, but only to the railway station. “My impression of McQuoid,” declared Mr. Hammond, “is that you cannot believe a word he says, and he would lie as easily to you as to me.” RAES WERE “MUGS” Mr. Allan Moody: As far as the Raes are concerned, the chief detective said they were “mugs.” Both accused had definitely nothing to do with the breaking and entering. Ernest is 42 years of age and has a boy, and Harold is 31 years ofd. There has been a master mind behind them and they have been given a particularly healthy shock and a taste of prison. “I have never heard a police officer strive so hard to throw things up against a man,” said Mr. Matthews, referring to Mr. Hammond’s evidence. “It is obviously personal animus. He would give anything to see McQuoid out of the way.” *- • His Honour: You have raised the question of personal spleen. I will get the chief detective. Counsel said that McQuoid had a few petty convictions, but he came of a respectable family and he was a devoted husband and father. Apparently he had been “cheeky” to the police. There was an attempt by the two Raes to put the blame on to him. His Honour said that the crime of breaking and entering was increasing and it had to be deterred. Chief-Detective Cummings, in evidence, said that in his opinion McQuoid was the ringleader. He had known the three men for a number of years. McQuoid was sentenced to two years’ hard labour, F. R. Rae to a year’s reformative detention and E. C. Rae was placed on probation for two years.