STOREMAN GUILTY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 6

STOREMAN GUILTY

POSSESSED U.S. GOODS

REMANDED FOR SENTENCE

Portion of the floor space of the downstairs court of the Supreme Court yesterday resembled an auction room when piles of goods, comprising overcoats, trousers, blankets, sheets, shoes, water bottles, mattress covers and other articles, figured as evidence in the trial of Ivan James Towers, storeman, aged 43, who was charged with the theft of the goods, and, alternatively, with receiving stolen property, and having the property in his possession without property accounting for it. The goods, which were claimed to be the property of the United States Marine Corps, and United States Army and the United States Red Cross, were valued at £155. There were nine charges all told. The case was heard before Mr Justice Fair, Mr. G. S. R. Meredith appearing for the Crown. When asked to plead the accused denied the theft and receiving charges, but admitted having the property in his possession without satisfactorily acounting for it. He said he expected that would be a plea of guilty, but when asked whether a plea of guilty should be entered he said he would plead not guilty. Evidence was given that accused had been employed as a storeman by the Americans at their depot from September last. On November 9, when United States military police vJsited the house where accused lived in Ngaio Street, Orakei, thev found a quantity of the goods Detectives later paid a further visit and found more goods claimed by the Americans. When questioned the accused offered no explanation In a statement- from the dock accused said there was more behind the story than appeared from the evidence. He contended the property had not been stolen, but although he refused to make an explanation, that did not mean there was no satisfactory explanation. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the charges of theft and receiving, but of guilty on the charge of having the goods in his possession without satisfactorily accounting for them. He was remanded for sentence. A request by accused that his name be not published was refused