MAORI'S THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 21

MAORI'S THEFTS

DWELLINGS ENTERED OWN defence conducted GUILTY ON TWO CHARGES A Maori, Walter Hunter, aged 37, described as a music compositor, appeared before Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court yesterday, charged with breaking and entering the house of Albert Lawirence Bailey, King George Avenue,' and stealing two gold watches and a chain, valued at £35. on December 2, and the house of Edward McDonald, Richmond Avenue, and stealing three diamond rings valued at £35, on December 12. He was also charged, that, being a suspected person, 'be frequented King George Avenue with felonious intent. Mr. G. S. R. Meredith prosecuted. Accused conducted his own defence, and although Mr. Justice Callan several times corrected him on points of procedure, His Honor also referred on a number of occasions to the skill with which he handled the case. Neighbour's Evidence

Mrs. Annie Allen said that on December 2 she saw accused in a shop near her home in King George Avenue, When walking home she saw him come out of one property and go into Mr. Bailey's gate. From her house she saw him walking about the property. Later he entered her gate and when asked what he wanted said he was looking for a Mrs. Ravborn and produced a card. She identified him at an identification parade. . Mrs. Maggie Armitage said she lived next door to Mr. McDonald in Richmond Avenue. At about 8 p.m. on December 12 she saw accused on Mr. McDonald's property. Later she saw him enter the house through a window. From her fence she saw him in a bedroom with the dressing table drawer open. She called out and he left the house and ran away. . Corroborative evidence was given ny her son, Brian Armitage. Both said they identified accused at identification parades. Lengthy Cross-examination

Accused, who showed a considerable knowledge' of cross-examination technioue, questioned the witnesses at length, especially about the time the events tliev described occurred and the procedure at the identification parades. Detective Maliood read statements in which accused j denied having been : n King George ilivenue or Richmond Avenue for a considerable tune, and gave details of ; Ms movements. At 8 d m on December 12, one statement said, he was sitting on a seat at the Ponsonby Reservoir corner. Constable Meyer said accused was not on the seat at 8 p.m. that night. For the defence Zam Foley said he saw accused on the seat at 7.50 p.m. on December 12 and remained talking to him for about 1:0 minutes. He knew the time because tliero was a clock just °*Giving evidence on his own behalf accused said he Itad been in trouble Ere, but had bad a hard struggle and had educated himself. In his final address to the jury.he said he had exposed many uncertainties in the times given by the various witnesses and about their identif.cation. The jury returned verdicts of guilty on both charges of breaking and entering and theft anc. not guilty on the charge of frequenting with felonious intent. Accused wta remanded for sentence.