RAN AWAY FROM GAOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19447, 1 October 1926, Page 17

RAN AWAY FROM GAOL.

/ YOUNG MAORI'S OFFENCE.

NOVEL EXCUSE OFFERED

ADDITION MADE TO SENTENCE

[nv tei.i: git a r ii.—o \vn ("on respondent. J WELLINGTON. Thursday. A novel excuse for running away f.-oni gaol was given iiy a Maori labourer, 24 years, Jimmy Wooreta, alias Hanson, alias Rodgers, in (he Magistrate's vji.urt today, when Mr. E. Page, S.M., asked accused, who pleaded guilty, if he had anything to say respecting tho offence. " Well, sir, you see, it is like this," said tho prisoner, leaning forward in Ihe dock and addressing the Bench post confidentially. "My girl was waiting at Dannevirke for me to marry her and I wanted to let her know that 1 could not go 011 with it until I came out again." Mr. Page: You stayed away from gaol for two months. Did you report to the authorities at all during that time'! jvcused: No, sir. Chief-Detective Ward stated that accused had been sentenced to two years' reformative detention at Wellington on July 3 for forging, uttering and theft. On July 21, when Wooreta ran away from the Terrace Prison, he continued, he stole a motor-cycle, the property of Cordon Herbert Belae, which he had been riding ever since about the country. While at liberty he committed other oifences, namely, forging, uttering and theft, but so far he had not been dealt with on these charges. The authorities said his conduct had had a very serious effect on the discipline oE the prison. Mr. Page: I regard gaol-breaking as a verv serious offence, and will sentence you to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. On the charge of stealing the motor-cycle you will he sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Both these terms are to be cumulative and to be served at tho expiration of the detention you are now undergoing.