DISAPPEARANCE OF IRON

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 109, 11 May 1927, Page 11

DISAPPEARANCE OF IRON

STORY OF "HEAVY ,, SHIPMENT

DEALER OHAROSD WITH

RECETVnCG.

FACES THIRD TRIAL.

For the third time within thre? months, Robert Lamb, aged 40, faced hit trial at the Supreme Court this morning, on two charges of having received quantities of galvanised iron, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Two juries at the February sessions, failed to reach a decision in the prisoner's case. The offences were alleged to have beeh committed on November 17, 1926, and the value of the property—six tone in assessed at £185 10/. Mr. Meredith appeared for the Crown, and Mr. L. P. Leary for the accused. Mr. Meredith explained that the accused was a dealer of Hobson Street, and lie carried out the transactions with a man named Reaton, who wa« employed by a firm of carriers. The accepted the iron from Reston, and paid him half the value of it. Benjamin A- Reston eaid that he was formerly a carrier employed by Herring and Co. One of the latter firm's clients was Burns and Co., Witness admitted that he had pleaded guilty to, and had been dealt with by the Court for the theft of the iron. On November 17. witness met the accused on hit section, and asked him if he would take ten cases of galvanised iron that he had on the wharf. The accused asked if it was all right, and witness replied: "It.is heavy." Mr. Merediths What did that meant —I don't know if -he knew what I meant.

His Honor (Mr. Justice Herdman): What did the expression mean?—lt meant that it was not right.

The price agreed upon for the iron was £40, and the caaes which were eventually deposited on the accused's section in Hobeon Street, were marked with the name of "Burns." Witness eventually collected 138 for the first lot of iron of 2} - tons. In December lie deposited a further quantity of iron, weighing 3} tons, on the section without the knowledge of Lamb. He < was not paid for this iron, as he was arrested the day following its delivery. The accused visited witness* office on the wharf, when he said: "We have been caught. The wagon has been followed, and the police know , about both lots at iron." Cross-examined, witness said he ibid Lamb that he was In the employ of Herrings, and had complete charge of everything. Mr. Leary: You told him you were in a position to sell the iron ?—Yes. At the first hearing you did not tell the court what the meaning of heavy was?—l was not asked the meaning, so far as I am aware. And yet you were sworn to tell the truth, the whoh truth, and nothing buc the truth. His Honor reminded counsel that if a man was not asked where Mount Cook was,' he could not furnish an answer.

Evidence was given as to the removal of the iron from the wharf on the instructions of Preston. It was stated that shipments of iron: were rarely short. James Hargreaves, a metal worker, said he had agreed to buy a quantity of galvanised iron from the accused for £24 i ton. The indent price of iron at that time was from £25 15/ to £35 16/ a ton. Witness got suspicious of his deal* ings with Lamb, when he saw the initials "J. 8." on two of the cases. He went and saw Burns, and,, as a result of a conversation with him, stopped.the payment on a cheque he had given Lamb. Witness subsequently asked the accused if he had got the iron honestly and received the reply: "The Arat lot was,. but I am not quite sure about thr second." (Proceeding.)