ALLEGED THEFT OF £25.

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5344, 3 December 1919, Page 7

ALLEGED THEFT OF £25.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Pera Aparahamia appeared before Mr J. S. Barton, S.M. yesterday, on a charge of having stolen £25 on'November 29. from the person of William Wilson.

William Wilson, laborer, Te Arai, said that last Saturday he and accused were drinking about town. Accused asked him for the loan of a £l, saying he had no money. At 2 p.m., while he was the worse of liquor, accused asked him to go to the Soldiers' Club. They went there, and witness lay down and fell asleep. Accused was sitting beside hint. When he fell asleep he had £25 in his pocket. When he awoke accused had gone and his money was gone. He later saw accused at the British Empire Hotel, and spoke to him about the loss of the money. Accused said another “bloke" named Maharangi Pohangi had taken it. To Accused: He did not remember giving money to Maharangi. He did not remember going to a barber's shop in company with him and another Maori. He did not remember meeting a third Maori and having a drink with him. He did not remember going to sleep on a chair in a boot shop. He did not remember taking out his purse and giving the money to accused to count. He remembered he had £-5 before be w'ent to the club. Detective McLeod stated that he met the accused in Gladstone Road on Monday, and asked him if he had taken £25 from Wilson on Saturday. He said “Yes. I have got the money, and have been looking for him ever since, to pay it back. I was taking care of it for him, because he was drunk. On Monday night accused's wife came to the police station and asked accused why he had brought this disgrace on her, and why did he tell her he had got the money for the sale oi land. Accused, who reserved his defence and pleaded not guilty, was committed to I the next sitting of the Supreme Court for trial. . Bail was allowed in accused s own recognisance for £250, and one sure y of £SO. • .