DESPERATE DOINGS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 3 April 1926, Page 10

DESPERATE DOINGS.

BY THREE MAORIS.* By Telecrfcpli—Pross Association. GISBORNE, March 2. At Ruatoroa Police Court to-day three Maoris were charged with robbery, accompanied by violence. The evidence showed that on March 27 a saddler named Albert Edward Orange had closed his shop at Ruatorea. He had in his pocket 23s in silver and thirteen one-pound notes. Between ten and eleven o’clock ho was awakened by a knocking at the door of his shop. He went to the door and a Maori said lie had a saddle to repair. Orange took the saddle and then the Maori said he had another. While Orange was waiting, two masked Maoris entered the shop, and one presented a gun at Orange, while the other started • going through Orange’s pockets. The Maori with the gun pressed it into Orange’s chest and said : “Up with your hands, don’t make a noise or 1 will blow a hole through you ; this is not a joke; we want money.” Orange said he' had no money. He was then struck over the mouth, robbed, and struck again and knocked to the floor, when one Maori put his knee on Orange’s chest and nearly, strangled him. He became unconscious, and on recovery managed to struggle to the Police Station. Inspector Ecc’es, who was up the coast at the time, gave evidence as to arresting, in company with two constables, the three accused, at Whenualuira. Accused pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supremo Court at Auckland for sentence.