THEFT OF GUITAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 98, 11 August 1944, Page 3

THEFT OF GUITAR

14 DAYS' IMPRISONMENT

MARRIED MAN'S OFFENCE

The si'quel to the theft of a guitar was heard in the Opotiki Police Court on Wednesday, Avhen Rcremoana alias Chas, Craee, was charged before Messrs J. T. Merry and C. Pipe, Justices, with the theft on July 2(> at Opotiki, of a guitar valued al ?J 10s the property of Thomas. Joseph Heta. The accused elected to he dealt with summarily and entered a plea of guilty. Sergeant J. isbister, prosecuting, said the guitar belonged to Heta and had been brought to Opotiki from overseas. The accused went to the room of a maid at a hotel and had the guitar with him. The maid left them and later the accused with another man returned to the room. Later the guitar was found to be missing and could not be found. Accused had been interviewed by the police and had admitted the theft. He had given the guitar to someone else and it had then been passed on to other hands. The accused was a married man avith eight children, under the age of 12. The family benefit was being drawn for the children and the accused did no regular work. He had staLed he was. not working at present as another child was expected. Accused had previously been bel'oro the Court. Asked if he had anything to add to his plea of guilty, the accused said he look the guitar because he thought it was his own. The guitar was very similar to one he had sold to another Maori who had not paid for it but had got rid of it. The bench renrirded accused that, he had given the guitar (produced in Court) away. Accuse;! was then convict.-d and sentenced to 11 clays' hard labour and an order was made for the guitar to be returned to the owner. Accused was advised to work regularly when he had completed his sentence and not to rely on security payments. Sergeant I'.sbi.slci' said that accused when he visited town always had enough money to get drunk.