POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 14 June 1902, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

Friday, 13th June. -Beforo Mr R. L. Stanford, S.M. Hupata Tiki, an aboriginal native, was charged with breaking and entering a store at Mahoenui on 2nd inst., <nd stealing therefrom articles enumerated. Mr Freeth nctid 9 s interpreter. The of Police conducted the case for thj prosecution, acd said h<) proposel to call the evidence availablo, and thai ask for an adjournment to p.oduce further evidence not available to-day. He cal'ed Andrew Lind, con stib'e, a l: Ne v Plymouth, ■vh') met prisoner at Uietiui at about four o'clock on the 6th inst, and <rrested him, after telling him the offence he was chaiged with. I spoke in English, and he understood me. He asked rt.e when the store was broken into. I s<id on tha 2nd ins*. I told him the spurs he was wearing answered the de-cription of those stolen. He stid he had buu"ht theoi at Urinui that morning. At Waitara I saw on him a pair of drawers and fUnnel shirt land a pair of tiaddle-twted trousers he is now wearing. He made no expiration about the elo'has. As the result of inquiries I fouud his statement about the spurs was comet; he bought th»m from Mr Rowe. T« Xotuku Tirira lived at Mahoenui. Prisoner s'aysd at my place and left the whare on Monday night, but I have no watch. I heaid him come in again in the morning. It, w»s early, just a?ter daylight. The sun was not up. I wss lyiDg on the bed, and heard prisoner tell his father ho had to f*tch his money. He said hi) went Kawakawa to fetch the money. It is about seven miles away, the track is very bad. Could not say if it was possible to go there and get; his money io the time. I could not have done it.

To the S.M.-Cannot siy, but believe prisoner left the whare about midnight. There are no stores at Kaw.tfca« a where people could get new clothing. Know O'Brien's store, "it was about two miles from where we slept. When prisoner came in in tbe morning he had en a nxw fianr,el like that produced, also a pair of draweis like these rm. Saw him smoking cigatettee, and he had a quantity of tobacco "and cigarettes on him. He was Bmoklng cigarettos in the evening before he wont out.

To Piisoner: I have already said I had no wa!cb, aud cannot say the tiaao exac;ly. Imw you smoking cigarettes. JKUne Pukte.i, who lives at Mokau 'Heads, saw pnsooer on Wednesday evening, 4',h June He came from Mahoenui, It is u long way, about 27 miles. He had on old clothes in the morning, I saw some new clothes he bad with him. He bad not got them I on. Prisoner slept at my p'ace on j Wednesday night. The new clothes I [saw wers dr.iwera and flannal.like those in court. He had trousers wrapped up in paper, also a pair of new b.ots. He had a pair of spurs, straight short ones on bis shoes Did not eee what he did j with tha things. Did cot tell the police I saw him put thtm on his siddle.

To Prhoi.ei : I siw you wearing a pair of lew spurs. You were wearing them 011 your fee I '.

Sergeant Haddrell h«ro put in a wire frim Mr Johu Elliot, Jus'ic-i of the Peaco st-iting that Mr Homy Homeyer w s 'OO ill to attend. The prisjiier was then remanded for one week.