BREAKING AND ENTERING

Chronicle (Levin), 15 November 1946, Page 2

BREAKING AND ENTERING

LENGTHY LIST OF OFFENCES Pleading guilty to 21 charges of breaking, entering and theft, one of breaking and entering with intent to commit theft, and one of stealing money and cheques valued at £97 10s 9d, Hoani Ahitane Hika - mate, labourer, aged 31, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence by Mr. Stilwell, S.M., in ihe Magistrates' Court, Wellington, m Wednesday. On a charge of breaking and entering at Otaki, he was remanded to appear at the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court on November 20. Charged with stealing an overeoatvalued at £15, accused pleaded guilty and was ordered to appear for sentence in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, on November 28. Twenty-two property-owners and tenants from Raumati, Pukerua Bay, Pahautanui, Heretaunga, and Te Marua gave evidence that their cottages and properties had been broken into and slept in, their food eaten, and possessions taken. Known as Johnny Ashton, accused had worked for a month as a porter in the Hotel St. George, said Miss Iris Harris, a clerk in the office of the hotel. On August 19 accused had been sent with full instructions to collect the mail and buy stamps. He also took cheques to be posted, and bills to be paid, to a total value of £89, £57 in cash. Accused had not returned to the hotel, and the bills and money had not been paid in or sent. "Property and money of a total value of about £350 was stolen," said Detective L. A. Smith. "So far, property to the value of only £30 has been recovered."