TUREI TOOK IT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 38, 24 January 1936, Page 7

TUREI TOOK IT.

Money From Clubmate’s Trouser Pockets. i i | MAORI CONVICTED OF THEFT. I I i I • Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, January 23. s “These thefts were particularly despicable as he was stealing from his club ■ mates,” said Senior Detective Hall con- ' cerning Rauaroha Tangai'oaapeau Turei, J aged 28, a Maori well known in Rugby ! League and tennis circles, who pleaded j guilty to three charges of theft when he appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in ! the Police Court to-day. j Turei admitted stealing 10s on Decem--1 her 7, JL‘4 on January 4 and 3s 5d on | January 11. He was represented by Mr. deal.

1 Detective Hall said that for some time money and valuables had been stolen from clothing left by tennis players in the dressing room of Stanley Street tennis courts. A trap was set, marked money being left in a pair of trousers on January 11. On that day Turei was seen to enter the dressing room. He was later accosted when he admitted stealing money from the trousers. Turei has been unemployed for some time, added Detective Hall. “He is a well known footballer and, as your worship can see, he is well dressed. It is obvious he could not keep up appearances and live as he has been doing on the sustenance he has been lately receiving.” Mr. deal appealed for leniency. Through being out of work Turei found it hard to keep up the prominent position he occupied in sports circles. Mr. Hunt; He will be kept out of all clubs from now on. Mr, deal: Yes, I was coming to that. The publicity he will get as a result of his appearance here to-day will be a greater punishment than any that your worship imposes. “Fancy a great big hefty young man like you drawing sustenance!” Mr. Hunt said to defendant, placing him on probation for two years. “This is not the end of the matter you know. You will have to go to work and make restitution.” Counsel said that restitution would be made.