NATIVE IN TROUBLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5277, 21 May 1928, Page 2

NATIVE IN TROUBLE.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND THEFT.

ONE MONTH’S IMPRISONMENT.

At the Paeroa Police Court on Friday. before Mr F. W. Platt®, S.M., a. young Maori named Tai Rawhiti, of Tirohia, was charged with attempting to commit suicide on. April 23 by stabbing himself with a steel spear, Hei was also charged with unlawfully converting to his own use a horse, valued at £25, the property of Mr G. Thorne-George, and of stealing a saddle and bridle, valued at £3 JO'S, the property of Mr E. P. Fathers, Paaroa. Defendant also) appeared on remand from Thames, charged with theft of a horse, valued at £2O, the property of Robeirt Odium, Qmahu, and also with the theft of a riding saddle, valued at £2 10s.

Sergeant D. A. Calwcll. said that the police had been informed that accused was behaving strangely at Thames, and on making inquiries it was found that he had gone to Tiroihia.

Constable McClinchy sta.tcd that he arrested accused at Tirohia oni Apr.il 23. Accused had then inflicted a wound on his chest, and when being arrested had produced a razor, which lie threatened to use on himself and witness, but he was overpowered. Accused’s statement about getting a lift from Parawai to Tirohia was incorrect. One horse was taken from outside the Paeroa Domain, and the second horse was stolen from near the Parawa.i abattoirs.

On the charge if attempted suicide accused was convicted and ordered to comei up for sentence Jf. called upon within six months. On the charges of the theft of the horses, saddle and bridle, accused was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. ALLEGED CARNAL KNOWLEDGE. INDICTMENT REDUCED BY BENCH. Tai Rawhiti, a Maori, was charged at the local Police Court, before Mr F. W, Platts, S.M., with a.Ueged carnal knowledge of a Native girl aged 15 years and three mouths at Pukekohe on or about December 23, 1927. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not gu lty. . Sergeant Calwell conducted' the prosecution, and Mr F. Ngawiki acted as interpreter.

Evidence as to the age of the girl was given by the Rev. Hori Raki, Church'of England clergyman, Huntly, the girl, her mother, ;a,nd Constable. McClinchy. After hearing the. evidence the Magistrate said that he was not satisfied :that the charge had been proved.

Sergeant Calwell said that in his opinion, the charge might very well have been laid under the Justices of the Peace Act, and the accused charged with taking the girl, who was under, age, away without the consent of her parents-. The magistrate agreed, and said he was very doubtful whether the case should go on to the Supreme Court. The accused was apparently under 21 yea.rs of age, and had thought the girl was over 16 years of age. The girl’s mother knew that they had ’been living as man and wife. He was quite satisfied that if he sent the ease forward it wouHd result in the accused being discharged. However. he would agree to the charge bsing altered to bring it under the Justices of the Peace Act. section 209.

This was agreed to by the police. In explanation, the magistrate, said that he had had considerable experience with Polynesians, and the offence alleged against accused was not an uncommon way of living or getting married. Accused would no doubt have married the girl, but had been prevented from doing so by the girl’s mother.

To the amended charge accused pleaded not guiilty. The magistrate said that on the evidence a. breach of the Act had been committed and' accused would be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the sentence to runi concurjentiy with the sentences imposed on accused for theft.