STOLEN TEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 239, 6 October 1916, Page 2

STOLEN TEA.

THE NATHAN CASE DEVEW>PS. A FOURTH MAN'S SHARE. A further development in the recent Nathan tea case was reached at the Police Court to-day, when Wm. Joseph Webb (28), a labourer, who had been arrested on Sept. 29, came before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., on a charge that about February of this year ne received a quantity of tea valued at £40, the property of L. D. Nathan, Ltd., knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Evidence was given by Arthur C. Bray, who had been foreman in Nathan's tea department up to August, and was now awaiting sentence on an admitted charge of having stolen tea, stated that in March he approached Webb and asked him if he knew where a quantity of tea could be placed. Accused, said he would see, and a couple oi days later accused rang witness up and asked him to send what tea he could by a carter to accused's house in Edenvale Road, Mount Eden. Witness sent eighteen halfchests to the place by a carter named Renwick. A few days later Webb met witness, then having £28 which he had paid for th<ytea, and £13 10/ of which was paid as half-share, the carter was paid £1 for carting the tea. The tea was stolen by witness from Nathan's.

George H. Renwick, carter, also awaiting sentence in connection with thefts of tea from Natban's, stated that the eighteen half-chests of tea were delivered by him to accused's place in Edenvale Road. Later he carted the tea from there to Thompson Bros.' grocery in Khyber Pass Road, by direction of accused For the double cartage he got 20/ from Bray. Evidence was given as to three halfchests of tea similar in every respect to the stolen tea having been found at Thompson's shop, and as to accused having admitted his share in the transaction when be was arrested by Detec-tive-Sergeant Hollis.

Accused pleaded "Guilty," and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.