STORE RAIDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 11

STORE RAIDED.

PRISONERS CHARGED.

MEN IN RANGIPO CAMP.

ONE PLEADS GUILTY.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAXGAXUI, this day.

The trial was continued this morning of J. Hugh Simons and Harry Wharepopa, prisoners at the Rangipo camp, who were charged with breaking and catering Taylor's store at Turangi and stealing tobacco and goods to the value of £32 13/2. Harry Payne, a prisoner, stated that Wharepopa admitted to him that he got out and broke into the store, using a boot to break the window. Simons and witness took stolen trousers to a hut, and also took chisels, as it was intended to operate on the door and clear out, but they were caught in the act. Under cross-examination, witness said the prisoners had a certain amount of: liberty and were allowed to visit Public Works camps on Sundays. Some prisoners did have money at times. The offences which various prisoners were being charged with had been spread over a period of two months. Archibold Bourke, officer in charge of the prison camp, described how a board had been cut in one hut so as to allow access to the roof. Wharepopa, in the presence of Mr. Dallard, Controller of Prisons, had admitted that he got out and broke into Taylor's store on his own. When asked when he first knew prisoners wire getting out, witness replied that it was in November, and that steel had been put on the outside of the doors. At that time four doors had been tampered with. Prior to that prisoners had only been out once at night. (Jeorge Knew, an officer at the camp, said he heard prisoners sometimes received money from persons on the road, and had bought tobacco. After evidence had been given bv Detective Murray, Mr. V. B. Willis, foV Wharepopa, intimated that the latter desired to withdraw his plea of not guilty and to substitute one of guilty. Accused was committed for sentence*.