BACK TO BORSTAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 742, 15 August 1929, Page 1

BACK TO BORSTAL

YOUNG FARM-HAND IN ADVANCED CRIME STOLE FROM UNCLE “Something missing in his make-up,” was Mr. Noble’s comment on his client, Rundolph Don Melhose, who was charged with theft at the Police Court this morning. Melhose, who has already had one term in the Borstal, was sent back again for three years. Described as a farm-hand, aged 18, Melhose was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of William Rogers on August 6 and stealing goods valued at £l2 5s 6d. There was a further count of breaking into the dwelling of Frederick Griffith Lee on the following day and stealing goods valued at £l9 15s 6d. The charges were both reduced to tneic and Mr. Noble entered pleas of guilty. According to Detective-Sergeant Kelly the youth had arrived in Auckland five weeks ago on a holiday. He had broken into the house owned by Mr. Rogers, who was his uncle. In regard to the other offence, accused had phoned a neighbour asking that a message be taken to Mrs. Dee saying that she was wanted in town. He had then slipped in and stolen the articles. “He told a story about a man named Hec or Hector, who threatened him with a revolver if he did not do these things,” added the de-tective-sergeant. “That is a little too thin. He is far advanced in crime for a youth.” Mr. Noble assured the court that the boy came from a respectable family. There was something missing in his make-up.

Mr. Campbell, probation officer, said that Melhose had come out of Borstal on July 7 of last year. “He has broken his mother’s heart,” added the officer.