CHARGES AGAINST POWELKA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 45, 2 June 1910, Page 5

CHARGES AGAINST POWELKA

PLEIADS GUILTY TO A BIG LIST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Pahnerston North, June 1. At the Supreme Court this morning Joseph J. Powelka pleaded guilty to ail the charges of furniture stealing, which comprised the first series of offences before he escaped from gaol, and also a number of minor offences. Included in the pleas of guilty were the following: Breaking, entering and theft of furniture from the premises of Messrs. Hope and Kidd, N. J. Metcalfe, J. B. Clarkson and Co. (theft of goods and cigars), Mrs. Jane Hardley, J. Robbie, H. R. Cooper, Helen McKay, Ashhurst Kaihvay.Station (theft of stamps), J. Francis, Longburn (theft of meat), and Millar and Giorgi (theft of goods). In the latter case . Powelka pleaded guilty to the charge of arson at the same premises. He pleaded guilty to the theft of a bicycle and to escaping while in lawful custody. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of arson at the High School, and the case is now beiore the Court.

FOUND GUILTY OF ARSON. Palmerston North, Last Night. The Crown's principal evidence was the finger prints found on a pane of glass that had been removed from a window in the school just prior to the fire, also a chain of circumstantial evidence. A feicycle, stolen near the school just before the outbreak, was found at she gate of a paddock from whence a horse was taken, which Powelka was riding at Pahiatua. A cadet belt, from the High School was also found at Miller *<id Giorgis'. After a retirement of fifty minutes, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty. Sentence was deferred. » .