DOUBLE CRAVING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 591, 18 February 1929, Page 12

DOUBLE CRAVING

LIQUOR AND PROPERTY OF OTHERS YOUNG MAN SENTENCED “You need time to get the craving for liquor out of your system and also the craving for other people’s property,” said Mr. Justice Blair in the Supreme Court this morning to Bertie John Christian, aged 27. who had been found guilty of breaking and entering Sargood’s warehouse and stealing soft goods. Prisoner was also held guilty of receiving in connection with a robber a from the clothing factory of J. Robinson. Wellesley Street. Christian will serve two years’ hard labour. For prisoner, Mr. Mackay said Christian’s downfall had been due to drink. His record had not been good. He had once stolen a box of chocolates when in liquor, and had been mixed up in a small false pretences charge arising out of some trouble m an hotel bar. His mother said that when her son was drunk he was exceedinglv reckless. Empty beer bottles found in Sargood’s yard after the robbery indicated that the perpetrators were drunken ruffians rather than experienced criminals. Prisoner had been out of work for some months. When his mother had been ill Christian looked after her boarding-house very well for some four months. Counsel suggested a short, sharp term. In passing sentence, his Honour said he could only regard the offences as serious.