PRISONER CHARGED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 197, 17 May 1941, Page 9

PRISONER CHARGED

Slippers Found In Cell Tile trial of a prisoner from Wiuiko prison on a charge of receiving a pair of slippers, knowing them io have been dishonestly obtained, was held in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday. Accused was Dardanelles t’arauihi, labourer, aged 2S. After a short retirement the jury found him not guilty and the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), who was on the bench, remarked that there would be no additional stain ou his character. Paranilii was charged also with breaking and entering the house of C. S. Woodward, Silverstream. This he denied, anil, the Crown offering no evidence, the jury acquitted him at the judge’s direc--1 ion. Mr. W. Birks said that on December i I t Mr. W. McDonald found his weekend | cottage at Blue Mountains, Silverstream, had been broken into, and among missing I articles was a pair of slippers. Accused I was on that day one of a party of prisoners who were cutting firewood within a ; mill- of the cottage without continuous I supervision. The superintendent of the prison found the slippers in accused’s cell. II was n breach of the regulations . I'm- him to have them. His explanation 1 ■ to tlm superintendent was that he found them at n rubbish tip. When a detective , I interviewed him later he professed to '

i know nothing about tlm slippers. Tile owner of the house, the superiiilemlenl and till' detective gave evi- , Mr. (.’. C. Kent, who appeared for tieI eused, did not call evidence, but address- ' eil the jury, saying that the evidence for the prosecution was sketchy and weak ami did not carry the case beyond susj pieiou.