RECEIVING CHARGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 107, 7 May 1943, Page 4

RECEIVING CHARGE

JURY FAIIiS TO AGREE

A Queen Street tobacconist Alexander Teece Smith, 45 (Mr. W W. King), was charged before Mr. Justice Callan and a jury yesterday, that 011 January -27 he received a quantity of tobacco, cigarettes and cigarette papers, valued at £57, knowing them to have been stolen. Evidence was given Py a man at present serving a gaol sentence that he and two others stole a quantity of tobacco, cigarettes, and matches from a store at Coromandel on the night of January 26, and next day witness sold part of the goods to accused for £30, delivering it in sugar sacks. He told accused that the goods were "hot," but that they came from a long way from Auckland. Accused gave evidence denying he was told that the goods had been stolen, and said he had no reason to believe the goods were stolen. He assumed they came from the "black market." It was because of thejiesperate position in the tobacco market that he made the purchase outside usual channels. After four hours the jury failed to agree and a retrial was fixed for Monday.