SAFE-BLOWERS GAOLED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 11

SAFE-BLOWERS GAOLED

REFORMATIVE DETENTION FOR TWO MEN

THREE AND TWO YEARS “All over New Zealand some

young men seem to be going in for crimes of breaking and entering, and in this case you appear to have entered on a campaign of

crime.” Mr. Justice Herdman, ia tho. Supreme Court today, thus addressed the young safe-blowers, William

James Leslie and Jack Edward Peters, both aged 25, in sentencing them to three years’ and two years’ reformative treatment respectively for their offences in the City and suburbs. The pair secured £S9 19s Sd in cash and goods from a raid on Hutchinson Bros.’ grocery shop in Great South Road, and blowing open the strongroom door with gelignite. Attempts were also made to break into the same firm’s premises iD Ponsonby Road, and the shop of Arthur W. Page, a grocer. The prisoners also admitted being in possession of housebreaking implements. On behalf of Leslie, Mr. Sullivan pleaded that the epileptic seizures from which the prisoner suffered, combined with the effect of blows on the head with a hammer, inflicted on him by a fellow-worker two years ago, had contributed to his present moral lapse. Counsel explained that the prisoner, who was married, had been certified by Dr. Maguire as suffering from epilepsy.

Mr. Schramm appealed for leniency for Peters, whom, he said, had never been before the court previously. The young man had left his home at the age of 12, said counsel, who described Leslie as the ringleader in these crimes. Peters had nothing to do with the theft of the gelignite, said Mr. Schramm, and when urged to join in these offenoes he at first refused, but was later persuaded. Peters had received only £7 of the plunder. In view of the fact that the prisoner had been in gaol for six weeks, counsel urged lenient treatment. In passing sentence Mr. Justice Herdman traced the crimes committed by the pair, in whose possession was found a clinch bar, which was used as a jemmy and a knuckleduster. It was plain that gelignite was used in blowing open one safe He found it impossible to allow them their liberty. Peters was given a lighter term because his Honour considered Leslie was the ring-leader, and that Peters was under his companion’s influence. Mr. Meredith said the goods had been pawned, but very little of the money was recovered, it being suggested that it went in racing.

An order was made for the return of the goods on payment of 25s to the pawnbroker.