MAN AND GIRL CHARGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 740, 13 August 1929, Page 16

MAN AND GIRL CHARGED

FOUND IN DUGOUT BY POLICE BOTH DENY THEFTS . Press Association . NAPIER, Monday. ‘ A plea. of not guilty was entered by Robert Forbes Raverty, aged 22, and Irene Campbell Pryce, aged 17, who were found by the police a. few weeks ago living in a. sort of dugout in a. maize paddock a mile from the public road. and. who were jointly charged at Hastings today with breaking and entering a store and stealing therefrom goods to the value of £l9. In addition, the male accused was charged with other thefts and with forging the name of G. S. Buckley to cheques for £2O, £l6 and £l4 respectively. ' Avvaried and large assortment of goods alleged to have been stolen made an unusual spectacle in the courtroom. Both accused were commi_ttled to the Supreme Court for 'tna . .

Constable Alsop stated in evidence that when accused were found in the dugout Pryce made a statement that on July 11 accused came to Where she was employed as a domestic at Waiohiki and said the police were looking for him. She concealed him in a. loft for two days and at night he slept in a room next to hers, which was detached from the house. Pryce thought her parents suspected some. thing, so she left, but returned home on July 22. Later she went with Raverty to the dugout and was dressed in some clothes belonging to her brother. She admitted breaking into the store With Raverty and stealing clothes. chocolates. shoes and groceries. Detective Farquharson said that Raverty had frankly confessed to the charge of breaking and entering in company with Pryce and also to the other theft charges preferred. Raverty had also admitted taking several blank cheques from Buckley’s cheque book when he (accused) was employed at the station managed by Buckley. He said he filled them in and cashed them.