ALLEGED THEFT OF ENGINE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26538, 28 September 1951, Page 3

ALLEGED THEFT OF ENGINE

MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Cedric Albert Gibbs, aged 26, a forestry worker, pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge that, on or about August 15, 1950. at Burnhani, he stole a Mercury V 8 engine, valued at £l3O, the property of the Army Department. Mr Raymond Ferner. S.M.. committed Gibbs to the Supreme Court for trial and allowed him bail in his own recognisance of £2OO and two sureties of £2OO. Detective-Sergeant G. W. Altv prosecuted, and Mr A, H. Cavell appeared for Gibbs. Captain Colin Fanselow said that in August, 1950, Gibbs was a corporal instructor attached to his unit, instructing 18-year-old trainees. Part of his duties was to demonstrate the Mercury V 8 engine, which was a standard component in Bren carriers, and one engine had been removed from a carrier for demonstration purposes. Shortly after the trainees left camp, Gibbs resigned from the Army. As a result of what he learned recently, witness made inquiries and found that a Mercury V 8 engine was missing and a Ford car engine had been substituted. The matter was reported to the police. On September 21. Gibbs arrived at Burnham Camp, accompanied by Detective Harding. Gibbs was driving a Ford car and witness found it was fitted with the engine which had been taken from the Bren carrier. Gibbs acknowledged that he had unlawfully transferred the engine to his father’s car. Gibbs agreed to this engine being taken out of the car and the original engine being refitted and this was done. Detective R. H. Harding said that, as a result of his inquiries, the car was taken to the police station and he interviewed Gibbs, who made a statement. In this statement Gibbs said some of his mates suggested that he change over the engines and. very foolishly, he did it. He used the crane on an Army truck to effect the transfer and there was no one in authority there at the time to question his actions. His father did not .know about it until he was approached by the police. Witness said he went to Burnham with Gibbs and the engines were changed to their original places Gibbs was quite frank about the whole matter and gave every assistance in clearing it up. There was no information about the identity of other persons alleged to have helped Gibbs in the offence. Committed for Sentence Alfred Edward Billing, aged 22. a labourer (Mr W. G. P. Cuningham), pleaded guilty to a charge that, on August 31, he stole £BO, the property of Cowan McLachlan.

He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The Magistrate dismissed charges against Billing of forging and uttering a cheque for £BO, saying that the evidence did not support the charges. Detective-Sergeant Alty prosecuted. Cowan McLachlan. governing director of C. McLachlan & Sons, Ltd., said that a cheque form was stolen when his premises were broken into on August 25. The cheque had been stamped but not signed. He advised the bank of this. George Nelson White, a clerk in the Post Office Savings Bank.' and Claude Neville Franklin, a clerk employed bv the National Bank of New Zealand, gave evidence. To Mr Cuningham. the witnesses said that the endorsement on the cheque, H. C. Clarence, was not necessary as it was a bearer cheque. Detective E. A. Stevens said he interviewed Billing, who said he had found the cheque in Cblombo street. Billing also said he opened a Post Office Savings. Bank account with the cheque and later withdrew £79 10s to buy a motor-cycle. Billing denied that he had forged the signature on the cheque. The Magistrate dismissed the charges that Billing forged the cheque by making a material addition to it. endorsing the name H. C. Clarence, and that, knowing it to be forged, he caused George Nelson White to act on it as if it were genuine.