OPOTIKI COURT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 59, 24 March 1944, Page 5

OPOTIKI COURT

THEFT OF WATCH

LIQUOR OFFENCE

At the Opotiki Court last Friday Tai Coleman and Fred Tai appeared in the dock together in connection with the theft of a watch, the property of Moa Stevens which was valued at £9. Coleman was eharged with the theft of the watch on .Tan-* uary 1. He elected to be dealt with summarily and pleaded guilty. Fred Tai was charged with receiving the watch, Avhile the police withdrew a similar charge against Coleman. Fred Tai also elected to be dealt with summarily and pleaded guilty.

Constable 'W. A. Rathie. who concluded the prosecutions, on behalf of the police, stated that complainant. left liis watch in his coat at the wharf where he was working. When he looked in his pocket about a week later he found that the watch was gone. Complainant saw Coleman who said that he had given the watch to Tai. Both defendants knew that, the watch belonged to Stevens. The name which, had been .scratched on the back of the watch had been filed off. Both defendants had been placed under t lie Manpower Officer and were to work in a fertiliser works, at Te Pa-pa.

The Magistrate said that in view ol the fact that they were required lor work he would suspend sentence, and they Avould be ordered to come up for .sentence within 12 months, and they Avould luiac to go where they were ordered to work. An order was made for the return of the watch.

Joe Riddle was charged that on January 22.at Opoti'ki lie aided some person in the commission ol" an offence, the supplying of liquor to a native, to Avit himself.

Constable Rathie said that defendant was with another man. Sam Clark avlio was dealt with at the previous monthly sitting of the court. Constable Rat trie said that he saw defendant and the other Maori with bottles of beer on them. Defendant, Avas lined £2 with costs amounting to £1 ss.