BIG LIST OF THEFTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22609, 28 June 1935, Page 10

BIG LIST OF THEFTS

TWO MEN CHARGED (Peb United Press Association) NAPIER. June 27. Thefts extending over a period of nearly two. years in Hastings, Napier and the surrounding districts had their sequel in the Hastings Magistrate's Court to-day when Roland Scott Barker, aged 23, a single man, and William James Tait, aged 25, married, appeared on a number of charges of theft involving a large number of articles. Goods that had been recovered and displayed in the court, where they made an amazing display, ranging from vases, linen ware and rifles to a theodolite, telescope and bagpipes. The total value of the goods was over £l5O. On two charges (1) breaking an entering Land and Heighways Goods Depot (Hastings) and stealing rifles and ammunition ; (2) breaking and entering the Napier Boys' High School and stealing rifles, Tait pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Napier for trial. Barker pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court in Wellington for sentence. Charged separately with stealing goods at Korokipo, Barker pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court in Wellington for sentence. On charges of stealing benzine Tait was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment on each of two charges. Barker was sentenced to seven days on one charge. Arising from the theft charges Charlotte Anne Barker, mother of the accused Barker, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods knowing them to be stolen and was convicted and admitted to probation for two years. Six strokes of the birch v.ere ordered in the Children's Court to be inflicted on seven Maori youths implicated in some of the thefts in the Barker and Tait cases.