GAOL FOR THEFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 264, 29 January 1941, Page 5

GAOL FOR THEFT

YOUNG MAORI CHARGED

EMPLOYER'S OFFER TO COURT

The offer of his employer to see that restitution was made, and to retain the young man in his employ, was responsible for Wircmu Ratapu Monti being leniently dealt with bv the local court on Monday, when 'ie appeared on two charges of theft. Monti, who had already been in custody for one A\-cek. A\ T as sentenced to a further fortnight's confinement in the Whakalane Police gaol.

. The accused Avas charged with hav ing on January 7 stolen a wallet con taining £24, the property of H. G. Parsons, and on January 13 a further sum of 12s 6d from the same person. So that the accused could be dealt with Ivy the Justices' Court the charge Avas reduced by the police to one of stealing £7. The accused pleaded guilty tc both charges.

Sergeant Farrell prosecuted, stating that the accused Avas a farm hand employed by Mr Day and lived in a bach with the man from Avhom the money had been stolen. He had taken the wallet from a coat and hidden it under a bridge after having taken £7 from it. Of the amount removed from the wallet the accused had sent £6 to Auckland in payment for a musical instrument and spent the other £1 in small articles. When interviewed he had denied

the charge, later stating that he had found the money and finally admitting the theft. On January 13 he had taken 12s fid from a pocket of trousers belonging to Parsons and had also admitted this offence. Sergeant Farrell stated that although the accused, avlio Avas aged 20, had not been before the Court before, the theft . Avasi a mean one as Mr Parsons AA r as not in good health and the money stolen Avas being isaved for a "rainy day."

Mr Day, the accused's employer, stated that Monti had,, until this, lapse, which he Attributed to a sudden temptation, been quite honest, and he (Mr Day) would be willing to continue to employ the man and see that the money stolen was rcn funded. In making the offer Mr Day stated to the bench that farm labour was extremely difficult to obtain and he would be losing another of liis employees shortly.

Messrs G. A. Brabant and J. G:. Mulholland were the presiding Justices of the Peace.