ARSON AND THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21160, 18 April 1932, Page 12

ARSON AND THEFT.

SIX CHARGES ADMITTED.

CASES HEARD AT TAUPO.

MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

Pleading guilty to six indictable charges, fivo of arson and one of bieaking, entering and theft, Edward Leonard Clapham, of Waikare Bush, Taupo, when he appeared last Friday before Messrs. It. F. Hutch in and Ralph W. Ward, J.P.'s, at the Polico Court, Taupo, was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court, Auckland. Clapham was charged with breaking and entering a shop owned by Robert Palmer, and stealing groceries, foodstuffs, tobacco, clothing and 7s 6d in money, of a total value of £3 lis lOd. Ho was also charged with wilfully setting fire to a wharo owned by Niwa 'laituha and others, a one-roomed wharo owned by Jano Stevenson Grierson, a two-roomed wharc, the property of Ngahenui Hemapo, a house belonging to Tiria Ataria and a hut the property of Henry Rameka. Hubert John Hall, an employee of Robert John Palmer at Waikaro Bush, said that on March 28 he discovered that the premises had been entered - , and telephoned Constable Brown at "laupo. The side of the shop had been broken into through a window from which the putty had been removed. Accused had been a regular customer at the shop.

Constable W. J. Brown said that ho arrested accused at Taupo on April 4 and on searching him at the police station, found in his possession a pair of denims, a face towel, a handkerchief, tin opener, enamel mug, two packets of cigarctto papers and a notebook. Accused had admitted that he had stolen theso articles and other property from Palmer's store. Clapham had denied taking the total amount of tho property as stated by complainant. He had been known to tho constable as Ted Brown. Niwa Taituha, a labourer residing at Waikaro Bush and a part-owner of a tworooined whare valued at about £2O, stated that on March 28 ho had discovered that the building had been burned down. There was somo furniture in the building belonging to another Maori. There was no portion of tho building or its contents left, it being completely destroyed.

Evidence was also given by Ngahenui Hemapo, Tiria Ataria, Henry Rameka and Jane Stevenson Grierson, that on the dates in question their various premises had been burned in their absence. In each caso Constable Brown said that in an interview oil April 15 Clapham had given and signed statements admitting arson.