Another Native Theft.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 19, 26 July 1887, Page 2

Another Native Theft.

At the Police Court yesterday a young native man named Kereama Bopiha was charged with stealing a coat, valued at 16s, the proparty of William Pattie, drapar. The accused pleaded not guilty. The evidence of Mr Pettie and his assistant, Bobart Harper, showed that on Saturday last, about five o’clock p.m., the coat was missed from where it was hanging outside the shop. When the witness Harper was going to tea he saw the accused wearing a similar coat underneath his top-coat, and noticed that he tried to hide it from him (witness), Shortly afterwards Harper found the accused in the Masonic Hotel, and charged him with stealing the co'at. This the accused denied, alleging he bought it up the street. Ultimately Harper and the native went down to Mr Pettie’s shop were the coat was fully identified. The native here alleged that Mr Pettie had sold hi’m the coat on the previous Saturday for 15s. The accused was then given in charge for larceny. The accused showed considerable skill in the manner in which he crossexamined the witnesses, his questions being directed to show that no one actually saw him take the coat, evidently thinking that until this fact was proved no charge could be preferred against him. After the witnesses had been examined, accused stated to the Court that he had purchased the coat from Mr Pettie on Saturday week for 17s, that he paid for it, and that some white women were there at the time. He had taken the coat up to his kianga, and had not worn it until the day he was arrested. In reply to the Magistrate he said no one saw the coat at his kianga. He knew it was his own, and never thought he would be arrested. His Worship discredited the story, and said that no doubt the accused wished to conceals his offence. As none of the natives present in Court would speak as to the accused’s previous character he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor in the Napier gaol.