THEFT OF WHISKY ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 7

THEFT OF WHISKY ALLEGED

VALUE PUT AT £575 (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 10. A sequel to the theft of 708 bottles of whisky valued at £575 from Hutchinsons (Wholesale), Ltd., between December 10, 1942, and February 25, was heard when - William James Henry, a boot finisher, aged 41 (Mr Dickson) appeared before Justices of the Peace on a charge of receiving stolen properly. William Farmilo said that he had formerly been employed as a storeman by Hutchinsons, Ltd., and he and the accused had come to an arrangement whereby the accused was to order beer from the firm and the witness was to substitute whisky for the beer. The witness was to get 30s for every bottle of whisky supplied to the accused, plus one-third of whatever the accused got. The accused had said he expected to get between £4 and £7 a bottle. The witness and the accused had been the only two who had handled orders. The witness had stolen 59 cases of whisky from the store and was at present awaiting sentence on the charge. The witness added that he had received £250 from the accused, and should have received between £2OOO and £3OOO. In March the witness and the accused had a fight over money metiers. To counsel the witness said he had not tried to blackmail the accused. The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed.