NOCTURNAL THEFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1934, Page 9

NOCTURNAL THEFT.

PETROL STATION INCIDENT. ACCUSED MAN ACQUITTED. The tracing of a quantity of stolen oil from the Ferry petrol station, King's Drive, to a vacant section in Gladstone Road, Parnell, by a trail of drippings along the road was described in the Supreme- Court when charges against Albert James Clark, aged 22, of breaking and entering the station by night, and of theft, were being heard. The accused, who was represented by Mr. Hogben, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which involved 22 pints of oil and 15 glass containers, of the total value of £2 10/. John Nicholson, railway shunter, who was on night duty at the Auckland railway station yards on November 24, stated that about 1.15 a.m. he heard the breaking of glass at the petrol station and saw a motor car there with two men walking about. He rang the police and when he returned saw the men drive off. At an identification parade at the police station he identified accused as one of the two men he had seen about the car.

Constable D. Campbell said he saw the car drive off and noted its number. Following a trail of oil he located the car in a vacant section at Gladstone Road, Parnell. Constable Broughton said he found the glass containers in the grass near the car later in the morning. Tn a statement made to Detective Miller accused denied all knowledge of the theft, stating that he bad parked the car in a section and retired to bed at 5.30 p.m. Tn summing up his Honor, Mr. Justice Smith, said that the sole question was one of identity. The jury, after an hour's deliberation, found accused not guilty.