UNKNOWN

Northern Advocate, 3 September 1913, Page 5

UNKNOWN

Htwo whananaki lads. BOOTS APPROPRIATED. youths, Eurara Ferguson, a and Edward George Shorta European, were charged with and entering, on August 3, of Thps. Morris, of Whananand stealing .therefrom nine of boots valued at £6. Mr H. appeared for Ferguson, Mr W. A. Carruth for Shortland. Moore said Morris was a | and also postmaster at He securely .locked his on Saturday evening, Aug-! 2nd. On the following Monday he discovered that the win- ' was broken and twelve pairs of boots were missing. Other I been stolen between Aug-1 ■ 22, including a quantity , tobacco. Both accused had made ■clean li>fast of the theft, and had ■•en the police a signed voluntary ■.tement of the matter. In regard ■ the second charge a third party implicated. Morris said he locked up his ■»re on August 2nd at 5.30 p.m. was then correct and the ■emises secure. On the following ■mday morning he found a window Boken, and twelve pairs of boots B>len. Witness identified a piece of Bboot box (produced) which bore Bs private mark. Witness's store Bd been broken into on three ocBsions. ■To Mr Harrison: He knew FerguBn and his people well. The father Has a very decent man. The boy's Bputation was very good until this ■ TMr Carruth: As far as truth Mad fKion were concerned Shortlaud Ed not a good reputation. ■ Constable Armstrong, of llikurangi, ■aye evidence as to an interview with ■hoi-tland. " The latter had admitted ■atering the shop at 'J p.m. on Satur■ay, August 2nd, together with the ■ther accused. Shortland said he ■ad broken a window and that Fer■uson had reached into the shop and extracted the boots while he (Shortland) kept watch Thar boots were ■ivided and carried to the river, ac■used. rowing across. A horse was in liraiting on the other side. They rode lown the river a distance of about Ihree-quarters of a mile, burying the loots in the sand, boxes and all, at a Klace opposite a house occupied by Kne Mackay. Accused Shortland ■showed witness where the boots had fceen buried, but since removed. Witpess asked Ferguson subsequently if tie had removed the boots, accused teplying in the affirmative. Witness was then taken to Maori Pa Hill, near Mackay.'s house, on the beach, and shown Tfte boots. They were tied up In a sugar bag, hidden under a flaxbush. There were nine pairs. Witness arrested both accused. Both lads said they wished to make a clean breast of it. He read statements written by accused admitting the theft. Ferguson's statement was f ,to the effect that Shortland induced Mm to commit the theft, telling him that if they were arrested they would get out on probation. Shortland admitted that he had been reading "Deadwood Dick ,, books. To Mr Harrison: Ferguson had given every assistance to the police to locate the goods. Mr Harrison asked whether the charge as far as Ferguson was concerned could be reduced to one of common theft. There was no direct evidence to show that he had carried out any of the breaking. Mr Page: It has been indicated that another charge is pending. . Sergeant Moore: Against Shortland only, and another man who received the goods. He' intended asking for a remand. Mr Page said Jie would remand both accused until September 16th, without calling upon them to plead. If accused pleaded guilty now they would be sent straight to the Supreme Court for sentence without bail. Accused were remanded to September 16th, bail being fixed in each case as follows: —Self in £50 and a further surety of £50. Bail was forthcoming in each instance.