MAN AT WINDOW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 3

MAN AT WINDOW

SHOCK FOR SLEEPER THEFTS FROM BEDROOM YOUNG MAORI GAOLED (Special to t.hfl ITorald.) RUATORIA, this day. Previous warnings against the course lie had been following had not. had the deterrent effect expected, and there was no alternative but to award a salutary period of imprisonment, said Messrs. V. G. H. Rickard and W, H. O. Johnson, J.Ps., when Pioneer Raroa, alias Rum Raroa, aged 23. a Maori, appeared before them in the Ruatoria Police Court on charges of theft and vagabondage. It was explained to the court that Raroa had been arrested as the result of inquiries following a night-prowling excursion on December 12 in the neighbourhood of the Rangitukia School residence.

On the night of December 12, the maid at the school residence had retired, leaving her bedroom window open, and some time later was awak-> ened by a man who stood at the window, striking matches. The girl called to her employer, who was sleeping in an adjoining room, but before he could be aroused the man at the window disappeared.

From the glimpse the maid had had of him. however, tine police were able lo connect the intrusion with Raroa, and when interviewed he admitted the offence, and delivered an autograph book which was concerned in one of the theft charges. Raroa was before the court on counts of being a rogue and vagabond, in that he was found on enclosed premises by night, without authority; and of the theft of an auto-i graph book and a bottle of lavender water, to the value of ss.

The justices reminded Raroa that he had had more than one warning from the court in the past, but had apparently not taken them to heart. On the theft charge in this instance, he would be convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, and on the vagabondage charge, he would be convicted and discharged.