ROBBED OF £195.VIOLENCE USED.

ROBBED OF £195.VIOLENCE USED. CHINESE WAYLAID. POLICE RECOVER MONEY. TWO MAORIS PLEAD GUILTY.
Two young Maoris employed on a market garden in Panmnre admitted, before justices in the Police Court this morning, that '..liey assaulted and robbed an elderly diminutive Chinese of hi* roll of notes. They were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. They were Charles Harris (19), and Kere Thompson (20). They were charged, at Panmure on January 0, with robbing Fong Foo Ying of £185 10/, and at the time, or immediately before such robbery, they did use personal violence. Detective-Sergeant McHugh prosecuted. The accused were not represented by counsel. Sack Over His Head. Fong Foo Ying, market gardener, and he was and was employed at Quong Lee's garden at Panmure. Harris had been employed at the same gardens for about nine months, and -Thompson about four months. They lived in a hut in the gardens. On January 9, about 9 p.m., Fong Foo Ying said he walked to the road gaites to close them before bringing tl»e lionses in. While walking along i trai-k a sack was thrown over his head a:«l he was nulled to the ground. He oould not see anyone. One |>erson held him on the ground while the other went through life pockets. "I was struck twice on the head with something hard, said the Chinese. "After that I wag unconscious. The sura of £195 10/, made up of two £50 notes, some £5 notes and one ten shilling note was taken from my pockets." Witness v said the money was his own property. He had been carrying it about in his pockets for a week prior to the robbery. Later the same night he saw the Money in the possession of the police. Another gardener, Fohg Yet, who lived at the same gardens, identified a pair of brown woollen gloves as belonging to the accused Harris. I'm in Trouble." Sergeant Bruce Thompson, of Ellerglie, said he went to the Chinese gardens in Pilkington Road, Tamaki West oti January 9. in company with Detective fJillum and Constable McLean. Fong Foo Ying wag found bleeding from two wounds on his head, one the top an»l one on the right-hand side, 'On going to the track leading to the horse paddock witness found the long 'grass had been trampled down. Nearby Tie picked up an empty sack. When he told tlie accused Thompson, he was lhaking inquiries concerning an assault on Fong Foo Ying, Thompson denied all know- ledge of the robbery, but almost immediately afterwards he said: "I'm in trouble now; I'll tell you all about it." Witness added that Detective Gillun? then took an explanation from Thompson. Going with the detective and, Thompson to a spot about half a mile-. from his home, Thompeon pointed otit a bush where he said Harris hAd placed the money. Witness saw Detective Gillum pick up a pair of brown wftollett J gloves. In one was found £195 10/ in notes, which was identified by Fong Foo Ying as his motiey. Maoris' Admissions.
Statements made by both accused were produced ibv Detective A. T. Gillutti. When witness showed Harris the paif of jrloves found under a bush. Harris, who admitted they bedonsred tft him. said. "Where do we ,20 now
"On Saturday last." said Harris in liis statement. "Tliolnpport and I talked about jrivinjr Fon<r Foo a- hidinjr because he was hard on 11s in the garden and made us work hard all the time. We decided to get at him When he groin g to get the horses in to feed. We got a sack and waited iti the long grass by the side Of the track. It wae dark when lie came along. I jumped on hi til and pulled the sack <m# his head. Thompson hit Ihim on tlie head with a «tone which he got off the stone fence. When the Chinaman fell down I decided to see if he had any money and I took A roll of notes put of hfe.trowßer pocket. We then went away and left the Chiltaman. T hid the money in a pair of gloves and put it under a bush. I didn t eouflt the money as it was dark. I hid it as I knew the police would be out and I didn't want them to find it irt oil* possession. I (realise T did wrong and I am very sorry for what happened." Tn the statement which he. gave to Detective f»iilum. Thompson said Harris kept at him to get the Chinaman and take his mohey. Thompson added that when Harris jumped out and threw the sack over Kong Foo Yinjr. he (Thompson) hit Fong Foo Yinc twice on the head with the stone. Harris then took the money. This concluded the evidence. Harris and Thompson pleaded guilty, and were committed to tlie Supreme Court for sentence. Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 8