MATAHI ADMITS BURGLARY CHARGES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 53, 24 October 1931, Page 3

MATAHI ADMITS BURGLARY CHARGES

SEQUEL TO ARREST S.M. SAYS ALMOST QUALIFIES AS HABITUAL CRIMINAL COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Tuhina Matahe, the Waspero Bay native, who was arrested by Constable Kelly in the early hours of the morning in connection with the tmrglary of a house in Victoria Street, appeared before Mr. S.' L. Paterson, S.M., in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court yesterday and after pleading guilty on two charges of breaking and entering by night, was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. After perusing accused's record, which included a number of convictions on theft and breaking and entering charges, the Magistrate rain ark ed that Matahe had a record which almost qualified him to be declared an habitual criminal. Matahe was also charged, on a third count with- breaking the terms of his probationary license by failing to report to the probation officer in Rootrua following his release from Wellington prison on October 7. On this eharge accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Matahe was charged with breaking and entering the honse of Ernest Albert Cooper in Vietoi;ia Street on the morning of October 22, and stealing the snm of 19s 3d in cash, and on a second count with breaking and entering the house of Benjamin Alfred Brothers in Whaka Road, on October 21, and stealing a leather purse containing foreign coins and the sum of 30s in' money. A plea of guilty was entered on both counts. Heard No Sound Benjamin Alfred Brothers, residing in V/haka Road, Rotorua, said that on the night of October 20, he retired to bed about 10.30 o'clock. He clossd the doors of the house and there were no lights burning He heard no sound during the night, but when he awoke in the morning he discovered that a small pocket purse containing foreign coins, and a soverign was missing from his trousers pocket. In addition to this, an ampunt of small change, also in the pocket, had been removed. His wife had found that the front door of the house bad'been opened dnring the night. Doors Not Locked Similar evidence was given by a railway clerk, Ernest Albert Cooper, residing in Victoria Street, Rotorua. He stated tbat on the night of October 22, he retired to bed at about 9 o'clock. The doors of the house were closed but not locked. He also heard no sound during the night, but be was aroused about 3.15 a.m. by a friend named Aspden who eoming in at that hour, informed witness that both the back door and the bedroom door were open. Witness did not make further investigations at the time, but in the morning, when dressing, he discovered that change which had been in his trousers pockets, was missing. All the silver had been taken and only three coppers left. The sum missing was approximately 21s. Trying to Kide Constable J. Kelly in evidence stated that at about 2.40 a.m. in the morning of October 22, he had been in Amohau Street in the vicinity of the railway station, when he noticed the accused trying to hide behind a telegraph pole. He questioned Matahe who said he was up against it and was sleeping out. In his hands, accused had a pair of double soeks, which were wet as though he had been walking through grass. His shoes were unlacea and his feet thrust loosely into his shoes. Witness was not satisfied with aceused's explanation and took him to the police station where on being further questioned, Matahe had admitted that just prior to witness accosting him, he had been in a house at the back of the railway station where he had stolen some money. Matahe had also admitted that on the previous Tuesday night, he had entered another house in Whaka Road and stolen some money including a soverign. Other. Hmises Entered The constable then produced accused's statement in which he admitted the two burglaries. Later, with the.senior sergeant, he had taken possession of accused's effects at the boardinghouse where Matahe had been staying. In the pocket of one of his vests, a sovereign had been found. Prior to these two burglaries, other houses had been entered in. Rotorua, but when questioned regarding these, Matahe had denied any complicity. This concluded the evidence and after a plea of guilty had been entered on both counts, accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. Matahe also admitted the charge in relation to the breach of his probation license. The senior-sergeant stated that the prisoner had admitted to him that he had not reported at ■ Rotorua because he had seen the sergeant and feared that he would be blamed for a house-breaking job. Accused's Record In reply to the Magistrate, the accused admitted that he had been convicted at Gisborne in 19 i 6 on a charge of theft, and again at Gisborne on a charge of breaking and entering in 1917. In 1928, he had been convicted at Tokomaru Bay on a charge of being unlawfully on premises with intent to commit a crime. In the following year he had been convicted of theft at Waipero Bay, and in 1930 on three charges of breaking and entering at Gisborne. Before sentencing Matake to three months' hard labour for the breach of his license, the Magistrate remarked that accused had pactically qualified to he declared an habitual criminal.