PLEA OF NOT GUILTY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 5

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY

POLICE EMBARRASSED

ALLEGED REVERSAL OF

INTENTION

The alleged sudden reversal by Lealie Clifton Arthur Payne, aged 31, of an intention to plead guilty caused the police a little embarrassment at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. When Payne appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M., and was charged with two offences of breaking and entering, five charges of theft, a charge of obtaining credit by fraud, and -another of false' pretences, Detective-Sergeant Eevcll said he understood that the accused intended to plead guilty to the charges. This was immediately denied by Payne, who pleatled not guilty, and said lie desired to be tried by a jury in all cases where he had the option. "Tho accused wants to gft to Auckland and he has taken these means to get there," said Mr. Eevell. _ "We have statements from him covering the offences charged, and in them he pleads guilty. These offences were committed at such places as Ohakuno, Taumarunui, and Auckland. The accused wants us to take him round to the.^e places and try him, but we don't^intend to do.that," The total amount involved in the charges was £20 12s 6d. . ..■ ■

Tlie /Magistrate said that the cases could not be dealt with on the accused's statements alone. .'The accused was accordingly remanded for a week.