THEFT OF FOOD

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 8

THEFT OF FOOD

HOUSES RANSACKED EXPLANATION GIVEN (By Telegraph. —Pres* Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday The theft of food and other good* from houses at Silverstream last December were explained in the Upper Court yesterday by Joseph Celestine Revell, aged 23, a soldier, who in a statement produced by the police, said he and two Maori youths, Hoani Ahitana Hikamato and Dardanelles Paranihi, while inmates of Wi Tako would be sent woodcutting in the bush near the prison. They would don civilian clothes they had hidden there, and explore the district and rob houses. This was denied by Paranihi. The three were jointly charged with breaking and entering the house of C. S. Woodward and stealing goods valued at £4 5s 3d; Revell, alone, was charged with breaking and entering the houses of Hughlyn Frances Harman, Gwenda Isabella Forsyth, and Mary Ann Burrowes, and stealing goods valued at about £ls, £1 and £3 19s respectively. Paranihi was charged with breaking and entering the house of W. McDonald and stealing a pair of slippers valued at 8s 6d. Revell and Hikamato pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. Paranihi pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. None of the accused had anything to say in Court and none had counsel.