ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3994, 29 July 1915, Page 2

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

WRONG MAN COLLECTS THE RENT. YOUNG MAORI PLEADS GUILT i

Tu Kapua, a young Maori, also known as Te Hi mu Warina, was charged before Mr W. A. Barton, tS’.JM., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, that on or about February 14, at Gisborne, ho obtained the sum of £l7 7s Gel from the Tairawhiti Maori Land Board by means of falso pretences, jnrough Mr Cooper, interpreter, accused pleaded cniilty. Detective McLeod said the complainant resided at West-shore, Napier. Ho was interested in a block of land, and on February 14 there was rent due to him to the amount of j„‘]7 7s Gd. Accused called at the olli< 9 of the Board, and representing himself to be the person to whom the rent was duo, obtained a cheque for the amount. He signed a receipt in the name of Te Hi mu Warina. On re reiving the money lie went to the Post Office and banked £ll in the name of Tu Kapua. Complainant subsequently made application for the rent, and was told it had been collected. When accused was arrested at Nuhaka on Monday he had £9 in bis possession, and had £6 to his credit in the Savings Bank. As far as the police knew there were tio convictions against accused for dishonesty. Ho had ueen working for Mr Joblin, who said accused was an excellent worker. Accused said he took the money, thinking lie was the rightful person to take it. His other name was To Himu Warina, by which name he had been christened. His Worship: If that is true, you were very foolish to plead guilty. Accused said' he afterwards found out he was not the proper person. His "Worship: Did you think at the time you took the money that' you had a right to it? Accused : The money had been lying at the Board for some time, and I had been away, and I was under the impression that I was the person to take it. His Worship: If you could have shown me that you were very foolish to have pleaded guilty. Detective McLeod said accused informed him that lie was a brother of To Himu Warina, and had been adopted by a man named 4u Kapua, of Wairoa. He beard there was money for Te Himu Warina, and thought he was the man. Accused, however, was not interested in anv land. His Worship remanded accused for a week for a report from the probation officer.