TWO YEARS' GAOL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 106, 6 May 1944, Page 6

TWO YEARS' GAOL

FARMER FOUND GUILTY THEFT OF RAILWAY GOODS (0.c.) HAMILTON, Friday. Clyde Powell Ludwig, aged 43, farmer (Mr. Sullivan), was found guilty to-day on 12 counts of stealing goods to the value of £1147, the property of the Railway Department, and three counts of receiving stolen goods. Accused in evidence admitted that he received goods from Benjamin Thomas Tippins, transported them to his home, nine'miles from Ohinewai, and stored them for him. He did not know the goods had been stolen. The money paid by the witness Ross for tyres was handed to Tippins by witness. Tippins asked him to sell some hats and playing cards, witness said. He did not know that these articles had been stolen. The tyre he sold to Mrs. Keith (who had given evidence) was received from Tippins, to whom he handed Mrs. Keith's cheque.*

Accused denied having asked witnesses for the Crown to hide the goods and say nothing about them. In sentencing prisoner to two years' imprisonment with hard labour, his Honor said accused had been ably defended. He had been previously convicted of theft, and said this fact distinguished his case from that of the other men involved in the thefts of railway property. His Honor mentioned that prisoner had not hesitated to accuse some of the Crown witnesses of perjury.