THEFT AT HALCOMBE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 209, 2 August 1940, Page 8

THEFT AT HALCOMBE.

MAORI FOR SENTENCE. In the Feilding Court to-day, before Messrs A. J. Kellow and V. E. Smith, J.P.’s, a Maori labourer, Thomas Ruahihi, of Awahuri, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering by day the premises of Mrs A. M. Ashworth, of Halcombe, and stealing therefrom various goods to the value of £2 Ss. The hearing of the charge involved unusual procedure' on account of the fact that accused is both deaf and dumb. The formalities required that accused thoroughly understood the nature of the charge and the obligations attaching to his pleading. Tlie circumstances surrounding the charge, related by the police, were that tlie premises of Mrs Ashworth were left locked up, with the exception of a small window, at midday on Sunday, July 2S. When she returned in the evening certain goods were noticed to be missing, these including a lady’s handbag and some cigarettes. Later, articles of wearing apparel were found to be missing. Constable E. E. Strawbridge gave evidence of investigating the case. He subsequently interviewed Ruahihi, whom be found to be deaf and dumb. However, details of the case were written out, and accused, while at first denying the charge, subsequently admitted that he had been responsible and gave a full, statement of his movements on the day of the offence, detailing how he entered the premises. He later took the constable to some lupins, where the stolen goods had been hidden. Accused was given a typewritten statement to read and this required him to acknowledge his guilt or otherwise. He then wrote the word “guilty” and w'as committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.