CHARGE OF THEFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 23, 11 September 1946, Page 5

CHARGE OF THEFT

HOCKEY CLUB FUNDS MAORI SENTENCED A young Maori, Puni Ransfield, appeared before Messrs. C. G. Lucas and C. H. Christensen in the Whakatane Court last Monday, charged with the theft of £7 2s 6d in money, from Mr 11. Savage, school teacher of Poroporo. The money was the property of the Poroporo Hockey Club and was in the care of Mr Savage. Accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily.

Sergeant Farrell stated that in the early afternoon of August 1, last,a man was seen to jump through the window of the house occupied by Mr Savage at Poroporo. An endeavour was made to intercept him but without success. It was later learned however, that accused was the man, and he was brought back to the schoolhouse where he was interviewed by the police. In the course of this interview, he admitted the theft of £7 2s 6d, which he had taken from the same place on July 14 last. Sergeant Farrell added that Ransfield had very little supervision at his home, and he had got out of hand. He suggested that if accused were to be left where he was for a short time, suitable employment could be obtained, and he could be placed on the right track. Restitution had been made by his relatives. The Bench: Have you anything to say? Accused: Yes. Just that I have no other clothes than what I have on. The Bench: What’s that got to do with you stealing this money? Sergeant Farrell: He certainly didn’t spend the money on clothes Your Worship. A sentence of fourteen days imprisonment was passed, with the added warning that if he should appear before the Court again, he would be seriously dealt with.