CONVERSION OF CYCLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 15, 16 October 1945, Page 5

CONVERSION OF CYCLE

MAORI LABOURER SENTENCED TWO MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT Sequel to the disappearance of a bicycle valued ai £15, the property of Stanley Beaumont on October was heard in the Whakatane Court yesterday before Messrs G. A. Brabant and J. King J.P.s when Tahae Hape f a Maori labourer of Ruatoki was ■ charged with unlawfully con. though not so as to be guilty of theft, the bicycle in -'question. Accused pleadied guilty . and was sentenced to two months: imprisonment in Mit Eden gaol. Ser. Farrell said that on the date ! in question, Hape had been released from the Whakatane gaol where he had been serving a term of imprisonment for a previous offence. He had been supplied with sufficient money to provide himself with a -meal, and his l'are home. That night, -however he was still in town } ancl was noticed in a billiard saloon ' where he was endeavouring to get a ride home. He was and •shortly after lie left, it was noticed ■that the bicycle which had ( been standing outside the saloon was missing. Accused was -and he denied having taken the • saying that he walked home. The time taken for him to reach ' Taneatua from Whakatane was one . hour and it was regarded as impossible for him to have walked the distance in that time. He later admitted the conversion. Concluding, Sergeant Farrell stated that this type of offence was .prevalent in and besides being a costly one to the victim, ■also caused him a great amount of .Inconvenience. Mr Brabant said that accused had a number of previous convictions, and as he was liable to a £50 fine, or imprisonment for three months, it was impossible to let him off lightly. Sentence was imposed as above.