THEFT AT PANMURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22086, 16 April 1935, Page 12

THEFT AT PANMURE

TWO MAORIS ADMIT CHARGE REMANDED FOR SENTENCE A charge of breaking and entering and theft of articles to a value of £l3 13s from a residence at Panmure was preferred against two Maoris, George Taukiri, alias Hauntonga Hereuika, aged 21, and Maunsell Paranaki, aged 19, before justices of the peace in the Otahuhu Police Court yesterday. Nesta Short, a married woman, residing at Waipuna Road, Panmure, said she left her home on March 17 for a holiday. All tho doors wqre securely locked and all windows closed and fastened except one. The back door key was left hanging on the back porch. On her return on March 30 she found the back door closed, but not locked. On entering she found signs that the house had been ransacked. Two sugar bags containing a number of articles were found in the kitchen. A box which had contained about 17 gold coins, sovereigns and half-sovereigns, had been forced open and tho contents missing. The front door was also open and all tho rooms had been entered Witness said she identified several articles produced, including a fountain pen, a pocket wallet and ties. The coins produced were similar to those missing from her home. The total value of the missing articles was £l3 13s. Constable J. R. Davies, of Ellerslie, said he visited the house when Mrs. Short had reported the matter. That night, in company with Detective Brady, witness went to a dance hall at Panmure and saw both accused. Witness spoke to Taukiri, who, after denying any knowledge of the affair, later admitted his share in it. He and the other accused led witness and the detective to a Chinaman's gardens near the Short residence. They indicated a place in the fence where they said they had hidden the stolon articles. Several articles were recovered then and in a subsequent search. Taukiri made a full statement covering his share in the matter. Evidence on similar lines was given by Detective Brady, who had interviewed Paranaki. Accused both pleaded guilty and were remanded in custody to the Supreme Court for sentence.