STOLEN BOTTLES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 54, 27 November 1928, Page 7

STOLEN BOTTLES

ASSAULT UPON HINDU MAORI SENT TO PRISON A slight stir was occasioned in the Hindu bottle-dealing community of Wellington on Saturday night when a Maori went to a Hindu’s place and stole a quantity of bottles, which he then sold to a number of unsuspecting Hindus. The result was that John Wilson, alias Jack Wilson, alias Henry Joseph Wilson, alias Paurau, alias Pourau, aged 41, appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of stealing 92 gin bottles valued at 11s. 6d., the property of Parbhu Parag. He pleaded not guilty to this charge and to a charge of assaulting Bajna Puma. Wilson held up proceedings for some time because he wished the services of a solicitor. He asked for Mr. A. B. Sievwright and Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, but finding that the services of these gentlemen were not available decided to allow the Magistrate to look after his Before any witnesses were called SubInspector Lander outlined the facts of the case and added that accused was caught taking a load of bottles from Parag’s place and that he assaulted one of the Hindus who accosted him. A number of witnesses gave evidence to the effect that they had bought bottles from accused, while Bajna Pama detailed the scuffle he had with accused and said that Wilson bit his thumb. Accused denied all the stories of the witnesses and 'said that they were mistaken when they said that he sold bottles to them. He elected to give evidence in the witness-box. Sub-Inspector Lander: Had you dealt with these Hindus before? Accused: No, I never had no taste for that sort. , . , In reply to the sub-inspector accused admitted other convictions for theft. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate said that it did not seem likely that all the Hindus could have been mistaken in regard to the identity of the man. In sentencing accused to three months’ imprisonment on the charge of theft Mr. Salmon said: 'I do this because of your bad record." On the charge of assault accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, the term to be concurrent with the other one. ___________