REFUSED TO PLEAD

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3046, 31 August 1933, Page 4

REFUSED TO PLEAD

YOUNG MAORI BEFORE COURT. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At a'sitting of the Cambridge Police Court this morning, before Messrs H. Alan Bell and R. 11. Moorhouse, J.P.’s, John Martin, alias Kautu Iwikau, a young Maori, was charged with the theft of £2 from the residence of Mr Edward Allen, at Maungatautari, on August 22nd. Edward Allen, Jnr., farmer, said on 21st August he had been working on his farm and came home wet through. He changed and left his trousers on his bunk. There were thirty shillings in notes and some loose silver. On the date of the charge he had difficulty in opening his bedroom door on returning to his residence. Witness became suspicious and found the money missing from his trousers. H 6 communicated with the police the following morning.

Constable 0. Rice stated that in company with Constable Dool, he interviewed the accused on August 24, when he signed a statement in which he admitted the theft of the money. After stealing the money he went to Ngaruawahia and spent the proceeds of the theft on. drink, lollies and cakes. Constable A. Doel said yesterday the accused had further stated that the money .was hidden at the Maungatautari Pa, i but on going out there the police could not find the money. On returning from the' Pa the accused made a further statement in which he stated , that his story of going to Ngaruawahja and spending the money was all lies. He did go to Allen’s hut and took the money out of Allen’s trousers. He had put it in an overcoat and apparently it had subsequently been stolen.

Asked how he pleaded accused admitted going into the hut, boiling a billy and eating his lunch. He went into Allen’s bedroom and did put his hand in the pockets of the trousers, but there was no money.

Taking his somewhat rambling statement as a plea of not guilty accused went into the witness-box. He stated that when first interviewed by the police he told them he had stolen the money and lost it in the paddock on the way back to the Pa. He admitted lie had never left the Pa after taking the money. It was the first time he had stolen any money for a long time. He wanted it to buy some clothes and In^ls.

Subsequently the accused admitted a list of seven previous convictions including five years’ reformative detention for theft. Committed for Trial.

Even after making the above admissions accused declined to plead and was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Hamilton Supreme Court.