ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 10

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.

THREE MAORI HIGHWAYMEN. PLEA OF GUILTY. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) GISBORNE, Friday. At Nuatorea three Maoris, Ihimera Putunaua, Huka Takaroa and Mauahi Hukunuku. appeared on a charge of robbery with personal violence. The victim was a pakeha saddler named Albert Edward Orange. Orange stated that after closing his shop about 7.30 p.m. on March 27 he went to his bedroom behind the shop. He lay reading until about 8.45 p.m., when he put out the lamp and went to sleep. People coming from the pictures woke him up. Shortly afterwards he heard someone approach, and heard a Maori call out "Bert."' Lured to the Shop Door. Witness took no notice, but finally got lired and called out to ask what they wanted. One of those outside said something about a saddle, and witness got up, putting on bis trousers containing his money. He opened the front door of the sbop and-saw a Maori, who said: "Mr. Orange, I have saddle for 1 you to repair." He went away to where their horses were fastened to a rail and brought a saddle back. Witness examined the saddle and identified the one in Court as the Fame one. Continuing, witness said the Maoris stated that he had another saddle, and walked round to the opposite side of the shop. Witness was waiting for him to bring the saddle when two masked men walked in. One was a short, dark Maori w'th a mask tied over his face. The other wae a very tall Maori, simi-' larly masked. The taller Maori bad a double.-ba relied gun, which he presented at witness. The short Maori started fumblin? about witness' pockets, and witness told him to cut that game out. The tall Maori pressed the pun into witness' chost and said: "Up with your hands. Don't make a noise or I'll blow a hole through you. This is not a joke.. We want money."' To pnt them off. said witness, he told them lie had no money. The man with the gun said: "Grab h'm." The shorter one grabbed witness, at the same time giving him a terifiic blow on the mouth. He then received another blow behind the ear and fell to the floor, where the Fame Maori put his knee on witness' chest and started to strangle him. Witness became unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness he crawled on his hands and knees to the door, which was now shut. Later witness struggled to the police station and gave a description of the assailants to the police. Inspector Eceles, who was at Ruatorea at the time, said a constable reported the matter to him. At Oranjre"* shop witness found a pool of blood, and bootmarks round it denoting a struggle. Orange gave a description of his assailants to Constale Neale, who, from bis local knowledge, was enabled to name two of tbe accused. Witness proceeded with two constables to the Whenuakura pa. where they found the two accused. Takaroa and Hukur.uku, wrestlinz. Witness separated them and the constable searched the house, finding the double-handled guns. Witness interviewed Patunaua. who made a statement and produced 5/3 from his pockets, saying that was his share of the proceeds. Accused admitted that a gun produced, one of those found by witness, was the one used in the assault. The three accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence.