Okaihau Maori Faces 9 Theft Charges

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1941, Page 4

Okaihau Maori Faces 9 Theft Charges

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] KAIKOHE, This Day. Nine theft charges were brought against Sidney Anderson, aged 24. a Maori, of Okaihau, in the Kaikohe Court yesterday. No evidence was submitted by the police in support of a charge of breaking and entering the property of Mr. A. J. Rowsell, at Okaihau, on May 20, and this was dismissed.

Anderson pleaded guilty to the remaining eight charges and was convicted on all, prison terms totalling nine months being imposed. Detective J. B. Finlay, prosecuting, said that the police thought that by dealing summarily with Anderson, instead of sending him to the Supreme Court, would save the country considerable expense. Anderson, who was a married man with two children, was in trouble as a juvenile and served three years from 1933 in Borstal.

Messrs. Ji J. Bedggood and N. A. Ellery, J.P.s, were of the opinion that a prison term was desirable, and informed Anderson,- who was suffering from. tuberculosis, that he would receive proper attention whilst in prison.

On a charge of stealing money and bicycle parts from A. A. Anderson at Okaihau oh April 23, he was sentenced to six months’ hard labour. He was sentenced to three months for stealing money and goods to the value of £l/1/5 from A. J. Rowsell at Okaihau on May 20. On the following six charges Anderson was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years:— On May 2 did steal 2/4, the property of A. J. Rowsell; on April 23 did steal 11/6 in money, the property of A. J. Rowsell; on April 7 did steal 9/- in money, the property of A. A. Anderson; on April 4 did steal a fountain pen, the property of A. A. Anderson; on April 16 did steal three bottles of ale, the property of A. A. Anderson; on April 1 * did steal seven tins of paint valued at £l/2/11, the property of Anderson and Thomas, Okaihau.