CIVILIAN MAKES ARREST

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1947, Page 5

CIVILIAN MAKES ARREST

EOTOBUA, Oet. S. How a resident of Okere went in seareh of a man he suspected of offences snbsequently charged against him, disc'overed him in hiding and arrested him pending the arrival of t'he police, was related in the Botorua Police Court today when the man pleaded gnilty to thefts from four dwellings at Okere and the conversi'on of an Auckland-owned car. Jolm Michael George Johnston, aged 30, mamedj whose wife he said lived in Botorua, was charged bef'ore Justiees of the Peace with the nnlawful conversion of a motor car belonging to George Simich, Auckland, on September .17 and with the theft of goods, food, clothing and liquor two days later from the uesidenees of Arthur Balcer, Hugh S. Wright, John Hellabv and II. O. Wills, to a total value of £74 5s 6d. "All the properties concerned are baches at Okere. Accused pleaded guilty on all charges and was remanded for sentenee at the Supreme Court, Auckland. Arthur Lionel Clark, launch proprietor, of Okere, stated that on September 19 he had given- a lift to a wayfarer who said he wanted to go to Wright 's place at Okere. Witness had asked the man, whom he identifled as aecused, a number ■ o-f questions but he had not been comnmnicative. Prior to this he had seen a white sports car abandoned on.. the road about a mile and a half on the Botorua side of Okere. Later he went to the places owned by Wright and 'Hellaby and found evidenee of someone having been there in the absence of the owners. Witness notifled the police. That evening, witness contiuued, he heard that a man bad been seen on the road making in the direction of Maketu. With his brother-in-law he patrolled 15 miles of the road ua his truek but saw naU©dy. They deeided to leave the truck and walk back quietly until they came to a deviation where the roacl intersection formed an island. There they found accused hiding. "I told him he had to come back with me as he had some tall explaining to do, " added witness. "I asked no questions but held accused until I received instructions from the police. The next day 1 was shown a portable radio and a bag at the police station which were articles accused had in his possession when I pieked him up earlier in the day. ' * Detective Sergeant White gave evidenee of his investigations and the iinding of the stolen property caehed near the road. The Detective Sergeant said, that Clark 's lielp had- been mueh appreciated. It was not generally realised that persons had power to arrest a suspected offender theniseives. "If we i were rendered the same assistanc-e as ' in this instanee, a great many more offenders would be appreliended," he added.