THEFT OF CLOTHES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2539, 6 February 1923, Page 2

THEFT OF CLOTHES.

LOCAL MAORI € YOUTII PLEADS GUILTY. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. At I lie Palmerston S.M. Court yesterday a Ma.-<ri youth, named James Ilirini, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the dwelling of Sidney Ruhaek at Motuiti on January 24th, and stealing a sit it of clothes belonging to Sidney Raback and a metal watch chain and sovereign case, the property of Albert Ruback. the total amount involved being £7. Sidney Ruback, a farm hand at Motuiti, said he left his house at which his younger brother also resided at about 5 o’clock in the evening. -The door was then shut, but on returning at about 8 p.m. he noticed the back door open. Witness went in, intending to get his pocket knife from his new suit, hut the clothes had disappeared. He knew the accused, but had never given him authority to remove the suit.

Corroborative evidence was given by Albert Haback, who accompanied bis brother. Witness reported the matter to the police.

William George Bowen, a secondhand dealer at Palmerston North, gave evidence as to the disposal of a suit of clothes by the accused. He had made an exchange, he said, but the suit was tuo big for him. Asked for further particulars, the accused said he wanted to go to the races and had purchased a suit of clothes, hut did not try it on. Witness gave him another suit in exchange. Constable W. Burrell, stationed at Pahiafua, gave evidence as to having interviewed the accused. The latter denied the charge, but later said lie had taken the watch from the coat, which was hanging in the cow bail, where he was working. However, on going to search accused, the young man produced the chain and sovereign case from his inside pocket, and then admitted his euilt. He stated that he had effected an exchange for the suit of clothes.

The accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.