RECEIVING FROM MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 6

RECEIVING FROM MAORI.

YOUNG BOOTMAKER GUILTY. RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY. ■ V On a charge of receiving stolen property at Onebunga, knowing it to have bmi dishonestly obtained, William John Kowe, bootmaker- (Mr. Terry), was found guilty in the Supreme Court on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Herdman. A second charge of receiving v.as withdrawn. Evidence was given by a Maori, Te iiaurangi, that he stole a number of pairs of book., isorne kinglet's arid a coat, and so id them to accused. The accused, in evidence, said Haurangi iir.st v/ent to his shop about a month before his arrest. Maurangi was wearing a squeaking pair of boots, which he complained were too tight, and at his reque&t Acsw&l bought them, paying 65 and giving the Maori an old pair. A day or tvro hit'-/ Haufangi returned wearing another pair of netv boots. When accused asked him where he was getting all th'; new boots from fie said he wuld not got a pair to fit him, and then, taking them off, showed corns on his feet, A<> cv.¥-j4 purchased the bootn for 10?.. j When fiaarangi next called at the shop j ho had a parcel containing a pair of tan | b'Ms, iiffi sri i'w }»resen«e of two My cusj u*wn i" t'iii hif.,,/ iold accated to mind j fets ov/fi business when asked where the ] boou had beft« obtained. He walked j out, bat- aho it 20 minutes later land agaiii atkod aocu»ed to buy the boots, | assuring him that everything was all yjgfol, ami that be was losing money on them. He then said hj» had an interest in Ms'/ri land, and ?/xne money was due to hi in. hit he wanted r«fcJy cash to carry on with. He t»td he was buying tho footwear on credit, A ecu sod believed what appeared to ham to be a true 4.torj-'. Neatt 'lay the Maori camo back with another pair of boots, which he f/I'j for 8s or JOts, and took away th« tan pair. The visits happened frequently, and frventu'illy accused gave Malloy, a stable--1 keeper, four or five pairs to sell, making up to 4.1 6d a f;air profit on theirs. A pair of ladies' shoes were left by Baurangi and accuM'd put them in the fJiop window, accused tought a singlet from Hauraogi /or 2s, but he did not receive an overcoat or a cardigan from hirn. He was "flabbergasted" vineu interviewed by the detective. Mr, Terry said possession of the goods was admitted. But amused did not Know tliey had been Atolen by Haurangi. # The prosecution was relying on the evident'# of a cunning thief with many convictions. The evidence was abto that of an accomplice. The explanation concerning the Maori land offered bv Haurangi was one which could reasonably be accepted by accused. After a brief retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of ao cused's youth. Sentence was deferred until this morn' ing- ««««««»