A SERIOUS PRANK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3776, 5 April 1928, Page 3

A SERIOUS PRANK.

LEAP YEAR INCIDENT.

A charge that, while, armed with a shot gun, he was found by night, without lawful excuse, in a bedroom occupied by two Maori girls, was preferred against a young man, Lester Cossiboom, at the Pukekohe Police Court last week.

Accused pleaded guilty and in a statement to the police, admitted visiting the house at Port Waikato at 10 p.m. on February 29th. He admitted entering the premises armed with a shot gun and wrapped in a blanket to disguise his identity. He did this as a practical joke as it was leap year night. The girls, according to the statement, received a terrible fright, but after “-a few minutes accused revealed his identity. He then gave one of the girls 2/6 to keep the incident a secret. One of the girls reported the incident to her father, who apprehended Cossiboom and received £1 with a promise of more to “sing dumb.” The latter, however, conveyed the facts and the £1 note to the police. The Bench characterised the incident as a thoughtless but nevertheless serious prank rather than one of criminal intent. A stern warning to leave guns and Maori girls alone in future was issued to accused, who was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. An application by accused for the suppression of his name was flatly refused.