LONG LIST OF CHARGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 1

LONG LIST OF CHARGES

ALLEGED INCENDIARIST IN DOCK MAORI GAOLED FOR 12 MONTHS ALSO COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE AS a result of complaints about thefts from scows and launches in the harbour and the setting fire to the premises of the Fishermen’s Co-oporative Company, Ltd., Nelson Street, on August 22, Mati Kuri, alias Mati Kura, alias Jack Mokara, a fish-eurer, aged 24, faced a formidable list of charges when he appeared at the Police Court today.

On 22 summary charges, including theft from the scow Herekino on August 24, of goods valued at 30s. damage to the cabin door and lock on the same vessel, and 17 charges of theft of clothing, electric torches and a watch, of a total value of £32 Bs, from various vessels, and a breach of his release on probation, Kuri pleaded guilty. On each of .two theft charges he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., the sentences to be cumulative. On the other summary charges he was convicted and discharged. INDICTABLE CHARGES Further indictable charges of breaking and entering the premises of the Auckland Fishermen's Co-operative Company, Limited, with intent to commit a crime on August 2 and wilfully setting fire to the same premises on August 22, were preferred against him. On the two charges he pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr. K. C. Aekins appeared on bis behalf. “Practically all the summary charges are thefts from vessels,” said Chief-Detective Hammond. “He has already had two years’ probation and has once been up for disorderly behaviour.” Mr. Aekins said that accused’s parents were both dead. “He has put the country to no expense by making a clean breast of it,” said counsel, who stated further that accused had been unemployed for 19 months. “He’s put more than 20. people to expense,” said the magistrate. “And ths goods stolen have been knocked about, too,” said the chief detective. Mr. Hunt sentenced accused to six months’ imprisonment on each of two of the theft charges, the sentences to be cumulative. The goods were ordered to be returned. On the other summary charges he was convicted and discharged. The indictable charges were then proceeded with. Frederick Savage, master of the s.s. He no. said that ou August 24, his ves was lj'ing at the Customs Street breastwork. He left the cabin locked and later found that it had been broken into. Two locks were consid-

erably damaged, together with the ocabin door. It would cost about £2 15s to repair the damage. KEY FOUND

“I found an iron key for opening the water tanks lying in my cabin,” said witness. “A pair, of trousers, a pair of braces, a whistle and a bunch of keys were missing.” According to Joseph Dayton, manager of the Auckland Fishermen's Cooperative Company, Ltd., he had locked the premises on August 1, at 4.30 p.iu. On his return he found that the place had been entered through a window, the bottom of the cash register being cut out and all the office drawers being forced open and broken. Nothing was stolen because there was nothing to steal. ‘‘l know accused well,” said witness. “He has worked for the firm several times as a casual labourer.” James Cole, assistant manager of the company, said he had left the premises locked up on August 22 lasi. A small window over the smoke room was left partially open. Witness was rung up by the police about eight o’clock, and when he went down found that the place had been on fire. He found footprints where somebodj' had got in the smoke room window. “The office was practically gutted by fire,” he said. “There were charred papers about the office and a fire had also been started in the shop, though only a few papers had been burned.” Detective McHugh said he had interviewed accused on August 26. August 27 and September 3. Kuri had at first denied any knowledge of the thefts, but later admitted them an£ gave every assistance in recovering the stolen goods from various shops where they had pawned. When first interviewed and searched, accused wm w earing the trousers and braces stolen from the Herekino.

Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.