POWELKA PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT CHARGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 847, 2 June 1910, Page 3

POWELKA PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT CHARGES.

At the Palmerston Supreme Court yesterday morning, Joseph J. Powelka pleaded guilty to all charges of furniture-stealing which comprised the first series of offences before he escaped from gaol, also to a number of minor offences. Included in pleas of guilty were the following : Breaking and entering and the theft of furniture from the premises of Messrs Hope, Kidd, N. J. Metcalf, and J. B. Clarkson and Co. (theft of goods and cigars), Mrs Jane Hardley, Mr W. Robbie, Mr H. R. Cooper, Miss Helen McKay, the Ashhurst railway station (theft of stamps), Mr J. Francis, Longburu (theft of meat), and Messrs Millar and Giorgi (theft of goods). In the latter case Pawelka pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson at the same premises. He pleaded guilty also to the theft of a bicycle and to escaping from lawful custody. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson at the High School. The case is now before the Court. The first witness called in connection with the arson charge was A, W. Beet, custodian of the High School. He gave evidence as to the school being safely locked up at 6.30 on the day of the fire. J. F, Vernon (rector), and several High School pupils gave corroborative evidence. James Young deposed to being one of the first on the scene of the fire and to finding a window broken. Detective Quirke gave evidence as to finding pieces of glass with finger-prints on them at the High School, and Kdwin Dinuia (fingerprint expert) deposed that these finger-prints were Powelka’s. Joseph Park gave evidence that his bicycle had been stolen from the vicinity of the High School on the evening of the fire, and that it was found on the premises of C. F. Turner, from whom a horse had been stolen, the horse subsequently being found in the possession of Powelka near Pahiatna. Arthur Giorgi and Maurice Millar gave evidence that the clothing found on Powelka had been stolen from their premises ; also to finding a leather belt and pouch on their premises, which was shown to have been stolen from the High SchoolDetective Cassells deposed to charging accused with the crime, to which prisoner made no reply.

Counsel for accused did not call any evidence for the defence.

The Crown Prosecutor did not

address the jury, but counsel for v accused criticised the case lor the prosecution, tracing the evidence through, and claiming that it was not strong enough to convict the accused. After a retirement of less than an hour the jury returned with a verdict of guilty. The charge of robbery under arms at Awapuui is proceeding to-day.