MAORI SENTENCED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 94, 3 July 1946, Page 5

MAORI SENTENCED

CHARGES OF THEFT TWO YEARS’ BORSTAL Sentence of two years’ in a Borstal Institution was passed on a Maori youth, Willie Topia, aged 17 years, of Matata, who appeared before the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday, facing five charges of theft. Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., was on the Bench.

The charges were firstly that on June 4, accused stole a wristlet watch and a cigarette case valued at £5, and secondly, on June 7, a mouthorgan valued at 10/- (the property of George Simpson). Three other charges of stealing 30/- in money (May 18), and two sums of 15/- (December 4 and 6) were also preferred. -A plea of guilty was entered on all counts.

Sergeant Farrell stated that accused had made a nuisance of himself at Matata. He had been caught in the act of burgling a house, in gaining entry to which he had even taken his boots off in professional style. He had admitted stealing other property from the house. In the last two named charges, he had been previously convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. Commenting that accused was not responding in the proper manner to the leniency extended, but had committed more serious offences, the Magistrate passed sentence of two years’ in a Borstal Institution on the •charges relating to the theft of the mouthorgan, and 30/- in money. On the charge concerning the theft of the watch and cigarette case, accused was convicted and discharged, whilst on the two remaining charges, on which a conviction had already been entered, accused was discharged.