THIEF CAUGHT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 160, 15 May 1940, Page 5

THIEF CAUGHT

CHASE THROUGH THE STREETS MAORI PLEADS NOT GUILTY Messrs W. Sullivan and G. A« Brabant, J.P's -were on the Bench yesterday when Johnny Bishop, a native, of Paroa, was charged with stealing the sum of £2, the property of Peter Coutts. The charge referred to Saturday, May lltli. Accused pleaded not guilty. The first witness called by Sergeant M. Farrell was Freda Marc a Trindall, who said that she assisted her husband in the management of the Cafe De Luxe. She was in tho kitchen at the back of the shop at about 7.45 p.m. on Saturday, May 11th, when she heard the strike of the cash register. She ran to the shop and when about halfway there saw a Maori run out. She saw that the till was open. Continuing, witness said she cliasid the Maori, who had run towards the Rock. She chased him round nto the lane at the back, when her msband came up. Her husband coninued to follow the man while witless went back for the car. Positive Identification. Sergeant Farrell: You kept him in ight until your husband took up lie chase? Witness: Yes. Witness said that she cruised ound the back streets in the car" md when she reached the monunent she saw a man near the RJYL iffices. She rccognised the man al Lccused. Witness later sa\v the man lear the Union Bank. She later saw lim hiding behind two Maoris. Witless then called her brother and ither assistance. In answer to several questions by lergeant Farrell, witness said she lad seen the man on other occasons and was positive of her identiication. He had been in the shop on he previous Saturday. The Bench: You are quite satisied that this is the man? AVitness: Yes. He had a sports :oat and a white scarf. There was '2 missing from the till. She could lot say that accused was intoxicat-i id though he was smelling of liquor. In cross-examining witness accusal asked: "Are you sure it was me?" The Bench: Witness has already aid that. Accused, to witness: You said on Saturday night that £3 Avas missing Tom the till. Now you say £2. Witness: Oh, well, I could not be ;ure then. Accused: You say I ran away near he R.M. I never did. Bishop stated that he went into :he Regent Cafe to have a meal. He paid Coutts for the meal. Constable Fuller: I respectfully mggest, Your Worships, that the natter of a meal has nothing to do with it at this stage. W T e will call mother witness to clear that up. Corroborative Evidence. Edward Roger Trindall said that at about 7.45 p.m. he was sitting with his wife in the kitchen at the rear of the De Luxe Cafe. He heard the bell on the cash register ring. He folloAved his wife to the shop and saw her chasing a Maori. He saw the Maori run down the lanef near the Farmers' Trading Company. The Maori had a white scarf well up over his collar. When he apprehended defendant later he was breathing heavily. Accused: Didn't I walk with you when you asked me? Witness: Yes. But, Your Worships, lie kept asking what we wanted him for. The third witness called was Andrew Edward Coutts, who said that the Maori concerned was in his shop (the Regent Cafe) an hour before the incident. When accosted by witness he tried to make out that he liad just left the Regent Cafe. He liad no money on him but it was possible for him to get rid of it. Accused: Didn't I walk with you when you asked me? Witness: Yes. No Defence. At this stage the Bench asked Bishop if he wished to call witnesses. He said that he did but further questioning revealed that he had not notified witnesses. The Bench enquired whether accused was in a position to pay a fine and he raid he was. "It is apparent by the testimony of these witnesses that you were the man they chased," said the Bench, in inflicting a £5 penalty in, addition to the restitution of the .. £2 stolen. Default was fixed at six weeks' imprisonment.