LOOTERS CHARGED

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20523, 16 April 1932, Page 16

LOOTERS CHARGED

MAJORITY FINED £5. COURT GUARDED BY POLICE AND SAILORS. (rRESI ASSOCIATION TBLI3UAM ) AJCKLAND, April 15. Unprecedented scenes were witnessed this morning, when over forty men who had been arrested during the night and early morning 011 various charges made their appearance at the Magistrate's' Court. The authorities were not taking any chances of a mob endeavouring to create trouble at the Court and perhaps making an attempt to rescue the arrested men. A strong naval cordon of Royal Marines and bluejackets, assisted by police and special constables, was formed about the Court, and it was impossible to get through the lines unless one nad some business at the Court. Tho arrested men were brought down in several police vans. Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., presided, and Sub-Inspector Gibson, in charge of the detective branch, prosecuted.

The first case called was that of George Joseph Silva, an Englishman, charged with assaulting Constable Cook and Detective Whitehead while in the execution of their duty and inciting lawlessness.

"Colli these officers are dangerously ill in hospital, and there may be more serious charges preferred against, Silva later on," said Sub-Inspector Gibson, who obtained a remand until April :12nd.

A number of accused charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly were remanded.

"Tliis Indian was one of tho looters," said Mr Gibson, after Morran Horry hud admitted stealing some cigars and jewellery of a total value of £2 3s (id. Horry wan lined £.5 or one month's imprison men t. William Ardrell denied that he stole a watch and a bottle of whisky of a total value of £-1 ss, and ho was remanded until April -2nd. An American, Edmond George Essory, aged 4 0, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in I'rinces street. "Thin man is an American who abused some special constables. Nothing is luioivn about him," said SubInspector Gibson. Essory was also lined £o or one month in prison. Charged with assaulting a special constable, °George Edward Porter pleaded not' guilty and also denied a further charge of taking part in an unlawful assembly. He was remanded. Miro "l.idovic, a .Dalmatian, ugod -4, who admitted the theft of a bottle of nun at the Wavcrley Hotel, was lined i~> or one mouth's imprisonment. "The Worst of the Lot." A young uiau, Leonard Koberts, was next to euter the dock to admit stealing live cigars and a bottle of whisky. Oetoctivo-fcSorgeant Mcliugh said he was with Detective .Brady and saw Roberts a window and enter a shop, "lie was 'Miug his pockets with loot and wo had to pull him right out of the window," said tho DetectiveWergeant. "He kicked and punehod us and called out to the crowd to como to hia assistance. Wo kept the crowd back at the point of a gun, and whon wo handcuffed Roberts he cried like a frog to make out that he was being hurt, but still the crowd did not come on. Koberts is the worst of tho lot." •Koberts was sent to gaol for throe months.

Three men next appeared togetherAndrew Henderson Woods, Keith Gordon Hellier, and Douglas William Harp —and pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing six gold rings, ft)ur cigarette lighters, two watches, two clocks, a tobacco pouch, a razor, and a pipe, of a total value of £10," tho property of Skcatcs Bros., jewellers. Each was fined £5 or one month's imprisonment. A fine of £5 or tho usual alternative was imposed on Robert Howarth (31), who stole a hat, six pipes, and some cigars, all worth £3. Joseph Henry Silver, who admitted the theft of a string of beads and said fhoy were thrown out and ho picked them up, was fined £5 or ono month. As there will probably be a moro serious chargo brought against him, John Rcid, who admitted stealing two hones, cigars, and shaving soap, of ft total value of 16s, was remanded for a week.

Five bottles of scent, somo brass trays and an ornament wero stolen by Leonard Beasley, who was also fined £5 or one month's imprisonment. Nicolo Nigro. a young man, pleaded guiltv to the theft of a mouth organ worth 2s fid.

"You arc only 17 so I will give you a chance," said Mr Hunt. "You are convicted and ordored to come up for sentence when called upon." "This one has a very bad list of previous convictions," said the SubInspector when Royal Desmond Capncr pleaded guilty to the theft of two wristlet watches, six rings, cigarette lighters, and othor articles. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Maori's Double Role. In spite of the serious nature of the proceedings there was much laughter concerning the case of Edward Huia Toroa, a Maori, charged with stealing clothing and rings worth £4 and, further, that he was an idle and disorderly person found by night armed with a repeating rifle and a bludgeon. Toroa pleaded guilty to the first charge. Sub-Inspector Gibson said he would offer no evidence on the othor charge. "Toroa was acting aa a special constable and had a rifle on his shoulder and a baton in his hand. After helping himself to some goods he then joined up with the police again.' He's not a bad sort of fellow." (Laughter.) Toroa, for theft, was fined £5 or one month's imprisonment. A large number of other offenders were dealt with in a similar manner by the Magistrate. REGRET AND HORROR. FEELING IN HAWKE'S BAY. (PRESS ASSOCUTIOK TELZOBAM.) WAIPUKURAU, April 15. At a meeting of the Central Hawke'st Bay Power Board, the following resolution was carried unanimously: That this Board conveys to the Mayor of Auckland its sincere regret and horror at the great loss sustained-by citizens; it deplores the action of those responsible for the destruction, and considers that the fullest protective measures should be taken by Parliament, framing drastic regulations for the safety of citizens and private property. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Justice, and the member for the district.