BAKEHOUSE THEFTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5941, 10 May 1944, Page 2

BAKEHOUSE THEFTS

MAORI YOUTH BEFORE COURT SUSPICION CAST ON OTHERS A plea of guilty was entered by a youthful Maori, Hiwa Pirika Bowman, when he was charged at Te Awamutu Court yesterday on several charges of theft of money from a local bakehouse. The sums ranged from 2s 6d to 5s 6d, and the thefts were committed on different dates. Messrs L. G. Armstrong and C. A. Reilly, Justices of the Peace, were on the Bench. Sergeant S. G. Clist, in outlining the circumstances, said that accused had been in this district for only two or three months, coming from Coromandel. He was working at Pokuru. He visited the bakehouse, where some money was kept in a tin on a shelf nearly half-way inside the premises. He paid systematic visits, and always took two-shilling pieces or halfcrowns. He never bothered with pennies, threepences, or sixpences. Suspicion was cast on the staff, though the proprietor was loth to think that any one of the staff would be guilty. Steps were taken to catch the thief, and he was caught in the act of taking some money. Nothing was known against accused, and the worst feature of the case was that suspicion was thrown on the whole of the staff of the owner of the money. Accused had nothing to say. Sergeant Clist stated that the proprietor of the bakehouse hqld accused on the premises until the arrival of Constable Findlater.

Mr Armstrong, speaking for the Bench, said that the thefts were very mean ones. Accused went systematically about the thefts, and it was not a case of a sudden yielding to temptation. He advised accused to take a pull and go straight, “for you can see where your actions are leading. We hope you have received a lesson and in future will respect other people’s property,” said Mr Armstrong. A conviction, with a fine of £3, was entered, in default four days’ imprisonment.