LABOUR IN VAIN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 239, 2 July 1908, Page 5

LABOUR IN VAIN.

PLUMBERS' EXAMINATION WORK DESTROYED. A number of plumbers who sat for tho recent City of London Guilds examination and, forwarded their practical work, in the shape of lead and plumbers' metal articles used in the trade .to Wellington, had all their handiwork destroyed by someone entering the store at the Technical School and breaking open, some of tho cases in which certain lead and metal work was stored. Two youths, Joseph Kenny, alias Morrissy, and Alexander Carr, wero brought beforo the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge of having on or about June 22 broken into the Technical School and stolen therefrom oewt.. of lead models valued at £4, the property of the Education Depart-, ment. ■ Chief Detective M'Grath conducted the case for tho prosecution,- and Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the dofence. John Varnham, chief clerk in tho Education. Department, deposed that ho acted aa superintendent of tho examination for tho City of London Guilds. On June 18 I'e placed two cases of lead,models, etc., from Mastcrton, in the store,-room of tho Technical School amongst some other cases. Ba j locked the door of the storo' and pla;-:l I the key in the caretaker's room. On June 23 witness went into tho stora and found that two cases had been opened, and the whole ,of 'the contents taken,' and a third case had also been tampered with. Three panes of glass in the window had been smashed. Every picco of lead was numbered with the number of tho candidate (for the City of London Guilds examination 'in connection with which tho lead tho metal models were being used. The pieces of broken-up lead produced bore tho numbers of Masfcerton candidates, who would loso twelve months' progress through their work having been destroyed. John Johnston, caretaker at the Technical School, doposcd that on tho morning of June 23 lie noticed that ono of tho cases in tho store had been broken open and some of the contents—lead and metal—were missing. ' _ . Gordon White, shopman at TJjos. Ballinger and Co.'s, stated that accused Kenny brought two pieces of metal to tho shop about June 22 similar to that produced ancl offered them for sale. Witness bought the lead, which Kenny signed for in tho name Morrissy. To Mr. Jackson: Witness made no inquiries as to how the lad had come by tlio lead. The peculiar shape of tho lead struck witness. Archibald A. Whitelaw, stercotyper at the "Evening Post" office, knew accused Kenny as a boy named Barry, who callcd at tho "Post" on Juno 22 and sold witness 561b. of lead, for which witness paid 4s. Sd. Witness identified some of tho lead produced as that sold to him. The lad signed a receipt for the 4s: Bd. in the name of Barry. To Mr. Jackson: As a rule witness inquired where tho lead came from, .but in this particular casp ho had not douo so, as ho was very busy at tho time. Detective Cassells deposed that on Friday last accused made and signed a statement admitting that ho and accused Kenny stole tho lead from the. Technical School, Kenny entering tho building through a broken window, ho (Carr) helping to break the lead up and carry it away. Witness saw.' Kenny the same night, in Victoria Street. Kenny said his name was M'Lecd, but Jatcr admitted that his namo was Kenny, and mado a statement to the effect that he had stolen tho lead, and had got Carr to help him remove it. Some was sold to the "Evening Post "and some to Ballinger and Co. Tlio two accused wero matos. ' . , Mr. Jackson submitted that there was no evidence of breaking and entering against accused Carr, and that, consequently, tho information against him should bo dismissed. His Worship held that tho charge, as 'laid, against Carr must bo dismissed. Another charge could bo prepared. The other defendant stood on a different footing.' Kenny pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. .JBail was allowed in tho sum of £40 and two sureties of'£2o each; A fresh information was laid against'Carr immediately, charging him with theft of lead valued at 305., tho property of tho Education Department. Mr. Jackson pleaded for a chance for, defendant, whoso parents wero prepared to send him to London, whero ho had a brother living. .*. _ \ : His Worship remarked that defendant appeared to'havo been making no effort to livo honestly, and chances had been thrown away on hini. Defendant must bo convicted, but ho would bo given a final chanco, and if his friends could meet his fino they could get him away to London. He would be convicted and fined £3, in default 21 days' imprisonment. ■■■/',