ROTOROA ESCAPEE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 146, 23 May 1939, Page 7

ROTOROA ESCAPEE.

CONVERSION OF A DINGHY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 22. An overnight escape in a dinghy from the Salvation Army Inebriates’ Institution on Rotorua Island on Anzac Day was narrated in the Police Court when Arthur Francis Munto, labourer, aged 36, appeared before Mr C. R. On- Walker, S.M. He pleaded guilty to charges of escaping while being an inmate of a home, unlawfully converting a dinghy valued at £4 to his own use, stealing a blanket, knife and mug valued at 17s, and wilfully damaging two locks worth 15s, all the property being that of the Salvation Army. Captain Norman, officer in charge of the institution, said accused was committed from Dunedin for a year and was admitted oil April 20. On the morning of April 26 lie was missing when the inmates paraded for work. Subsequently it was found that a dinghy and oars were missing from two sheds on the foreshore, the doors of which lmd been forced. The other property mentioned in the charges was also missing and none of it had been recovered. “If we do not recover the dinghy it will cost us £lB to replace it,” witness added. Speaking from the dock accused said he was forcibly committed, to the island and not on his own application. He had had a sad life with much domestic unhappiness and broke away from Rotoroa in the hope of starting life afresh. On the charge of escaping accused -was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, the Magistrate remarking that he probably acted on the spur of the moment. Oil the other charges ho was admitted to probation for a year and ordered to make restitution, credit to he allowed if the dinghy were recovered.

“The matter is now in the 'Minister’s hands to decide what must he done with you when your sentence lias been served,” the Magistrate added.