CRIMINAL YOUNG MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16123, 11 January 1916, Page 5

CRIMINAL YOUNG MAORI.

DARING THEFTS COMMITTED. FORTNIGHT HIDING IN BUSH. TBI TELEGBATH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Rotorua, Monday. A decidedly precocious young criminal in the person of a Maori lad named Jimmy Ngoungou appeared before Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., at the Rotorua Magistrates Court on Saturday, to answer three charges of theft. He had, a month previously, been convicted of theft at Whakatane, and leniently treated by being convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on. The present charges wero for stealing moneys and a field glass from one Thomas Thorno Seccombe, at Poroporo, clothing and money from the house of H. J. Ryde at the same place, and a double-barrelled gun and cartridges from Nepia Hona at Whakatane. He pleaded guilty. •

! Sergeant Cummin gs stated that the accused's father had misled the police as to the lad's age-, stating at the time of the first conviction that he was under 16 years, and now saying that ho was 17. The father had also harboured him after the later thefts, and had, while doing so, gone to the police at Whakatane and complained of their not finding the lad. The thefts had been daringly carried out. The accused had ridden 16 miles, taken an axe, and broken in a door and ransacked the house, stealing those things that he considered useful, besides money. He had taken to the bush and swamps when the police were after him, and evaded capture for a fortnight. Eventually he was found in a dug-out on the banks of a river. He resisted capture and had to be dragged out. He utilised the field glasses to watch for tho police, and had them in his possession when captured. The accused was becoming a dangerous criminal, and he (the sergeant) had nothing to say m mitigation of any penalty. Mr. Dyer' said that it was clear that the accused needed restraint, and on the charge of stealing the gun and cartridges ho would be convicted and sentenced to a period of reformative treatment not exceeding three years. On the two remaining counts he would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The prisoner would be committed to the Invercargill prison under ■ section 4 of the Crimes Amendment Act.