BURGLARS AT WORK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10664, 14 August 1928, Page 3

BURGLARS AT WORK

COAST MAORIS’ ESCAPADES

SERIES OF CHARGES

THEFT OF SADDLERY AT TIKITIKI

\.Special to the Times.) TOKOMARU BAY. Aug. 12

: The series of during burglaries in the. \Vai-o-matatini-Tikitiki district during some weeks past had a sequel in the Police Couit at Pt. Awanui on Friday when several young natives appeared before Messrs G. Kirk and V. G. Rickard, J.’sP., and admitted the offences. Sergeant' Carroll prosecuted. A charge of breaking, entering and theft of saddlery, valued at £2 10s, from D. Fitzgerald’s shop at Tikitiki on July 30 was admitted by Geo Taiapa. The owner of tlie shop gave evidence of having securely locked the premises that night. The following morning he found the front door forced, the lock having been broken. He identified the goods produced as his property. He declared that Taiapa visited his shop regularly on Saturday evenings. Constable Olsen stated that when interviewed in connection with the offence, Taiapa frankly admitted breaking and entering the premises. He subsequently recovered the stolen goods which were in the possession of another man.

In a statement to Sergeant Carroll Taiapa declared that he and bis brother n.roke into the store, each talcing some of the goods. Accused pleaded guilty and v. as committed to the Supreme Court at Gisborne for sentence.

STORE ENTERED AT WAIOMATATINI.

THREE NATIVES COMM [TIED FOR SENTENCE

The plans laid for the robbery or the Waiomatatini stpro of the Farmers’ Trading Co., were revealed when Geo. Taiapa, Hetnaro To Mare and Charlie Ward were jointly charged with breaking, entering and theft from the store at Waiomatatini on the night of July 22 of the following goods: three vanity cases, two pairs of shoes, one pair of leggings, two belts, one knife and sheath, two pairs of trousers, a hat band, four shirts, two books, a wallet, two overcoats, a camera, a pair of goggles, ten packets of chocolates, two packets of cigarettes, and 8s in money, of a total value of £2l.

Albert Peachey, formerly manager of the store, testified to locking the premises on the night of July 22 and finding next morning the premises had been entered by forcing the front door. He identified the stolon goods produced..

Corroborative evidence was given by the present store manager Frederick Chambers, who recognised the stolen goods. He said he had seen the three accused about the store occasionally Constable Olsen gave evidence of searching Taiapa’s house and finding goods there that had heen stolen from the store, and also other stolen property. Sergeant Carroll gave . evidence of having interviewed the three men who frankly admitted the offences. At the time each was wearing some of the stolen goods, and they gave him much .assistance, enabling him to recover the majority of the articles. In a statement,_ Geo. Tainpa stated that one day in July he and his brother Wi broke into the Farmers’ store at Tikitiki by forcing open the window with a piece of iron, and took some goods. A few days later they entered the Farmers’ store at Waiomatatini by bursting open the door and removed some goods from there, comprising a ukelole and some chocolates. On Saturday night, July 31, he met Charlie Ward outside the pictures and arranged to break into the Farmers’ store at Tikitiki the following night. Te Maro AVi and Jolinny were standing nearby but he was unaware if their plans had been overheard. Ward undertook to wake them up, and he did so by .tapping on the window some time on Sunday morning. Wi. Johnny and he dressed and walked to the flag-pole to meet Te Maro. whom they expected to find there. At the Farmers’ store they noticed the door was open and someone was inside, so they decided to cross the river to Waiomatatini and enter the store there! On two horses they doublebanked over the river. Ward and he broke open the door and Wi and Johnny followed them inside, Te Maro staying outside though at one time he was on the premises, but accused was unable to say if he took anything. He stole some goods and later saw Johnny Wi and Charlie emerge with other articles from the store. They returned over the river on horseback, laving Ward and Te Maro at this point. He and liis brothers hid the stolen goods in the drawers of itheir bedroom. Subsequently he gave Ward the ukelele he had stolen informing him then that it had been dishonestly obtained. When confined in the cells at Port Awanui Police Station To Maro asked them to state he was not present when they broke, into the store. A. similar statement was made by Charlie Ward. He added that when in gaol they agreed to take the hlame for the burglary- and to leave Te Maro out of it, as the latter contended he had not entered the store. Te Maro, in his statement, asserted that when they reached the Tikitiki store they- saw the door open and someone was inside. He became frightened at the manner in which the others flashed the torch round, and they all ran away. They crossed the river on horseback, and be waited outside whilst the others entered tbp store at Waiomatatini. He admitted that he had received some of the stolen goods from bis compan- . ions. When in gaol his companions had agreed to say that he was not present when the burglary occurred but that they could not let Ward out of it. Accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

WAI-O-MATATINT AND TIKITIKI STORES ENTERED

MAORI COMMITTED FOR SEN- • TEXCE

Three charges of breaking, enter-ing-and theft were preferred against Taiapa who was accused of entering the Farmers’ store at Tikitjki on the night of July 18 and stealing the following goods: two pairs of trousers. three pairs of socks, two packets of cigarettes, a wristlet watch, a shirt, a tin of sardines, a lead pencil. a coat, a pair of shoes, and a quantity of chocolates, valued at —8 18s. The same store was entered in April and the following goods were stolen- A : suitcase, four hats, five pairs- of trousers', two-packets of cigarettes, two pairs of pyjamas, seven pairs of socks, a pair of suspenders, five tie pins, four shirts, a pair of hair clippers, a knife, two helts, a pair of gloves, and some chocolates, valued at £22. On July 14. the Farmers’ store at Waiomatatini was burgled and a ukelele, a shirt, some chocolates, and two packets of cigarettes valued at £2 were stolen. In each of these charges preferred against George Taiapa,. accused stated that ho and his brother Wi had entered the premises by forcing windows and bursting doors. Accused pleaded guilty to all counts and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence.