Beer theft by train crew

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 3

Beer theft by train crew

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER, April 22.

The driver, guard, and locomotive assistant of a train which was derailed in the Napier marshalling yards on April 8 appeared in the Napier Magistrate’s Court today charged with the theft of beer.

They are Brian Alan Car-1 penter, aged 36, engine! driver, Laurence Cecil Ham-; blyn, 35, railway guard, and, Stephen Puna Mcßoberts. 23, locomotive assistant, all of| Napier. Each was charged with stealing 24 cans of beer from Opapa, on the railway line 15 miles south of Hastings, on April 7. They pleadea guilty, and each was fined .$75, with costs $5, and ordered to pay restitution or return the beer. “TAKEN TO CAB” Sergeant R. C. Rainey said! Carpenter drove the train which left Napier on April 7. It went to Opapa where a; consignment of beer was! loaded. Carpenter took one; of the cartons back to the cab ‘ with him.

On a return trip to Napiei

(the train was derailed. Ser igeant Rainey said. The beer had not been re- > covered, apart from three cans which were later found (inside the cab. i The facts were the same for the other two men, said Sergeant Rainey. Mcßoberts told the police he did not drink any of the beer he took; he had got rd of it at the next station. The beer had not been recovered. JOB LOST ; Counsel (Mr T. R. Peach) said Carpenter had since (been dismissed from the Ranways. He asked Mr W. K. L. iDougall, S.M., to be lenient. : The Magistrate told Carpenter it was a "wonderful way” to end 16 years of service in the Railways Department. He ordered him to pay (restitution of $6.90. Counsel for Hamblyn (Mr R. G. Gallen) said Hamblvri (was suspended from-his job, land had lost the use of a (Department house. The Magistrate ordered Hamblyn to return the beer. For Mcßoberts, Mr L. H. Chisholm said that although the defendant was under suspension from the Railways, there was a possibility of his retaining his job. Suppression 0- name was sought. The Magistrate said anyone who stole from the Railways cid not deserve to have his name suppressed. “In fact, I hope you lose >our job like the other two,” ‘he said.