ABETTING ALLEGED

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20421, 11 February 1938, Page 8

ABETTING ALLEGED

TWO CHARGES PREFERRED PROBATION FOR MECHANIC Pleading guilty to two charges of aiding and abetting in thefts committed at Pio Pio on December 29 last. Alexander James Ghurton (37), motor mechanic, and labourer, who appeared before Messrs F. Findlay and F. J. Shepherd In the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court to-day was convicted and admitted to probation for twelve months. Churton was charged with aiding and abetting a Maori to steal goods valued at £l7 14s, the property of the Public Works Department, Te ■Kuiti, and goods valued at £l9 Bs, the property of Earnest William Wyatt Hughes, an employee of the department, and it was stated by Detectivesergeant J. Thompson that the Maori in had already been arrested and would shortly .come before the court. Volunteered Information Accused, stated Mr Thompson, had called at the Hamilton police station yesterday in connection with the charges. He had made a lengthy statement to the Wanganui police about them and had corroborated the statement to him. According to the statement, which was read to the court, Ghurton had been driving his car from Auckland to Wanganui when he overtook a Maori riding a bicycle. Accused gave the Maori a lift and went with him to his home at Miranda. Later the two travelled south and stopped near a public works camp at Pio Pio for the night. Accused went to sleep but the Maori disappeared and returned later with a large canvas parcel. Accused, who stated that he was intimidated by the Maori, agreed to go back to Miranda with him, though he suspected that the Maori had committed theft. Later they went to Auckland and an attempt was made to dispose of slashers and tools, bearing the Government broad-arrow, which accused stated the Maori took from the canvas parcel. Accused was asked to help in the disposal of the tools through second-hand shops but he did not sell any of them. He had not taken part in their theft nor had he gained anything from their sale. “Statement Only Evidence” “The only evidence we have against accused is his own statement,” said Mr Thompson. ’’Quite a quantity of the stolen goods have already been recovered in Auckland and traced to the Maori It is true that he lias committed an offence in law, but he did not know that he was doing wrong in carrying the Maori and the stolen goods around the country. Jlc is more of a fool Ilian anything else.” Unfortunately, Ghurton had been before the court on several occasions before, but chielly for minor offences but a severe penalty was not asked for. “His honesty o; purpose,’’ said Mr Thompson, "is shown by the fact that he phoned the Hamilton police station regarding the thefts.”