PLEA OF GUILTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 September 1938, Page 6

PLEA OF GUILTY

TWO MAORIS COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE BURGLARIES IN WAIRARAPA. HEARING AT MASTERTON YESTERDAY. Pleading guilty to twenty-two charges of breaking and entering, theft and car conversion, two Maoris, Joseph Uru and Hawea Governor, were yesterday committed by Messrs E. G. Eton and E. M. Hodder, J’s.P., to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. The following evidence was heard after going to Press yesterday:— BENZINE REPLENISHED. George William Sellar said he put his car in his garage at home on the evening of June 12. The ignition key was left in the car. which was found standing outside the gate next morning. A check up revealed that it had only taken him two gallons of benzine to come from Paraparaumu so that whoever had used the car had filled it up with benzine. A bathing cap and a handkerchief produced were lying on the floor of the car but his own articles were not touched. The cai’ was not damaged. EVIDENCE OF DETECTIVE. Detective-Sergeant W. Kane stated that on August 29, assisted by Constables Reardon, Downes and Hill, he executed a search warrant on a house occupied by the accused, their wives and relatives at Akura. Both accused were present. Inside the three-roomed house was found a large portion of the articles of groceries produced. After enumerating the articles and goods found in the house, witness added that in trees near the house, with the assistance of the accused, a' 701 b bag of sugar and other articles, including two mail bags and a suitcase containing a large quantity of cigarettes, tobacco and papers, were recovered. While conducting a search of the house the police were assisted by the accused who put no obstacle in their way. “DO SOME JOBS.” The two accused were later interviewed at the Police Station when they both made statements relating to the offences with which they were charged. Witness then read a voluntary statement made by Governor in which he said that “When we took Mr Sellar's car Uru and I had agreed to go to the Pahiatua district and do some jobs.” Governor went on to admit the Judging by the number of empty fish and fruit tins and also tobacco tins in the vicinity of the accused's house, continued witness, it would appear that they had consumed a large quantify of the stolen goods.

Constable C. H. Reardon described the search and the subsequent recovery of the stolen property and went on to corroborate the evidence of the previous witness with regard to the taking of statements from the accused when they admitted the offences. “GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES.” The accused said they had nothing to say and then pleaded guilty to all charges. They were committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence on October 13. The accused asked for bail, Uru stating: “We are expecting to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and we would like to spend a few weeks at home.” Detective-Sergeant Kane said he had no objection to bail but pointed out that it was not usual to grant it when accused pleaded guilty. The Bench refused to grant bail. On a further six charges of theft both accused were remanded by consent to (appear at Wellington on October 14.