ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24883, 24 May 1946, Page 5

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE

TAXI-DRIVER MENACED WITH KNIFE

THREE YOUTHS COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE (P.A.) AUCKLAND. May 23. The story of the robbery of a taxidriver at Mangere on the night of May 2 was told when three youths appeared before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. George Williams, a labourer, aged 17, Abraham Manuera, a labourer, aged 18. and William Broughton, a farm hand, aged 22. were jointly charged with robbing William John Henry Whiteside of £2O, a wallet, driving licence, and an army registration card of a total value of £2O 15s, and with using personal violence. x They were also charged with the theft of a watch, jacket, and shoes of a total value of £2O, the property of Thomas Shepherd. One charge of unlawful conversion of a motor-car, valued at £lB5, and two charges of unlawful conversion of bicycles, of a total value of £25, were also preferred against the accused. Broughton also faced two separate charges of unlawful conversion of motor-cycles, of a total value of £l5O, and one charge of theft of clothing valued at £2. Williams was also charged with the theft of an overcoat valued at £3.

A taxi-driver, William John Henry Whiteside, said that about 7.45 p.m. on May 2, he found three Maoris sitting in his car, two in the back and one in the front. The witness drove to an Isolated part of Mangere, near a market garden, where he thought the Maoris wanted to go. and parked near a house. Two of the Maoris went behind the car, continued the witness, and Williams remained in the front seat. As the witness turned around, expecting one of the two Maoris to pay the fare, he felt something pressing into his side. At the same time Williams said: “Take it easy.” “I put my hand down to see what was pressing against my side, and found it was a knife, as I cut my hand on it,” said the witness. "Broughton climbed into the back seat, and placing his hand round my neck, dragged me over.” Broughton continued to strangle him, and someone asked for his wallet. The witness handed it over as Williams leaned ovet from the front and punched him. Broughton called out: “Hand me that knife.” In the struggle which ensued, the witness managed to grasp it and break the blade. Hi<| assailants ran away, and the witness went into the house. Detective Cromwell said he saw the three accused riding bicycjes through Newmarket. Broughton ran away, but was later found in a vacant section. When searched, Williams and Manuera each had £2 in his possession, and Broughton had £l6. Their clothing was bloodstained. In written statements, the accused admitted the attack and the theft of the bicycles, which they took after they left the taxi. They also admitted all the other offences with which they were charged. The accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.