CAREER OF CRIME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 4 September 1945, Page 4

CAREER OF CRIME

TWELVE CHARGES MAORI’S ESCAPADES COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE A career of crime commencing -on August 15 and terminating on August 22, during which time he and an accomplice stole nearly £IOO worth of goods and converted five cars valued at £1340 was admitted by Herbert Clarke, an 18-year-old Maori freezing worker from Wainui Beach, in the Gisborne Police Court yesterday, when Messrs. A. M. Robertson and A. A Fraser, J.P.s, committed Clarke to the Supreme Court, Wellington for sentence. Twelve charges in all were laid, these reading: On August 22 at Matawhero he did break and enter the shop of Mary Ashworth and steal 10s m money and goods valued at £7 12s 6d; on August 21 at Gisborne did convert a motor car valued at £450, the property ot Amelia Jessie Berry; on the same day at Gisborne did convert a motor car valued at £175, the property of Ronald Ralph Orchiston; on August 15 did convert a motor car valued at £3OO, the property of William Richard Garbelt; on or about August 15 at Gisborne did convert a motor car valued at £65 the property of Eric Noel Gully, on August 16 at Gisborne did steal an attache case containing clothing valued at £2, the property of Arthur McFarlnne; on August 16 at Gisborne did steal a saxophone, a leather case containing books end music and three coats, of a total value of £GI ss, the property of John Patrick Prendergast and another, on August 16 at Gisborne did steal an overcoat valued at £6, the property of Frederick Bayram; on August 21 at Gisborne did steal a fourgallon benzine drum and rubber tubing valued at 10s, the property of Grenville Finching; on August 21 did steal a bundle of newspapers, letters, and a gent’s hat, valued at 5s the property of Stewart McGuinness; on August 21 at Gisborne did steal a gent’s overcoat and gold cigarette case of a total value of £2O Bs, the property of Henry Heatley Dods; on August 15 at Gisborne did convert a motor car valued at £350, the property of Geoffrey John Jeune. Most Articles Recovered

The police case was conducted by Detective-Sergeant R H. Waterson, while the accused was not represented. In the breaking and entering charge, one of the converted cars had been used to reach the scene of the crime, while the other theft charges involved stealing from motor cars, DetectiveSergeant Waterson stated. Another youth would be charged later in the Children’s Court in connection vvith these offences, he added Most of the stolen goods had been recovered and little damage had been done to the motor cars. Evidence was given by Phillip Raymond O’Rourke, who said that on the afternoon of August 21 he saw that the window at the back of the diningroom run by Mrs. Ashworth at Matawhero was shut. Next morning the fly screen had been torn off and the window broken. Mrs. Ashworth gave evidence of how she locked the premises on August 17 and how on August 22 she found the building had been entered and the goods and money removed. How he had left his car in Gladstone road on August 16 and how a saxophone, coats and leather case of a total value of £6l os had been removed was related by John Patrick Prendergast. Evidence of her car being removed without her consent was given by Amelia Jessie Berry Similar conditions existed in the case of William Richard Garbett’s car, and evidence to this effect was given by the owner. Detective T. Sneddon gave evidence that as the result of complaints received, Detective-Sergeant Waterson and himself interviewed Clarke on August 22 Clarke told of how he and a friend on the nights of August 15, 16, and 21 converted cars to drive around the countryside in, and how they had searched through the cars and removed anything they could find. The breaking into of the Matawbero store and dining-room took place when they were returning from a dance. Most of the stolen articles were left in the cars they had converted and some of them at the beach and wharf. Most of the articles had been recovered, Detective Sneddon stated. Clarke pleaded guilty to all the charges and had further to say.