CHARGES NOT PROVED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 6

CHARGES NOT PROVED

TRANSACTION in tyres

After a retirement of an hour a jury in the Supreme. Court acquitted Albert William Gauntlett, aged 36, labourer, of a charge of theft of bicycle tyres and tubes valued at £6 7/6, the property of Reid (N.Z.) Rubber Mills, Ltd., and also of a charge of receiving the property knowing it to have been stolen. The trial was heard before Mr. Justice Gallan, Mr. T. Henry appearing for the accused. Accused gave evidence in which he admitted selling the tyres and tubes, which were in an unfinished condition, to a cycle dealer in Ponsonby Road, but said he had bought them from a man named Harry Jerard for 10/ a tyre and tube. He thought they were black market goods. In answer to Mr. Cleal, for the Crown, accused said he frequently met Jerard in a gaming school, and never had any suspicions about him. Accused admitted various convictions since 1932. Clinton Henry Jerard said he sold the tyres and tubes to Gauntlett for £8. He had obtained them from a man who said he manufactured them out of old rubber. Witness admitted to Mr. Cleal that he had been caught on the premises of the Auckland Meat Company outside the safe with an acetylene cutter.