TRAFFICKING IN WAR STORES ALLEGED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 249, 15 July 1920, Page 8

TRAFFICKING IN WAR STORES ALLEGED

4 MOTOR-CARS AT SLING CAMP ] REFERENCES DURING HEARING OF COURT CASE By Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, July 14. References to alleged trafficking in war stores at Sling Camp, England, wero f made during fhe Searing of a motor cas'e • in the Magistrate's CburTto-day. It was I suggested by counsel that the defendant, ! Harold Roy Paynter, had been called ; on to make certain Inquiries in a depot 1 at which one of tho witnesses for the ; prosecution was employed. At a previ--1 ous hearing of tllo case this Magistrate (Mr. M'Carthy) struck out charges fleal- ' ing with Catliedral Square, and amended • the information so that It should be based on a charge that Paynter, a taxi- ' ftb driver, had driven from Colombo 1 Street into Gloucester Street in a dan- ■ gerons manner. TWe new charge was • "that the defendant drove a motor-car 1 along Colombo Street and into Glouces- ■ ter Street in a manner that was dan- • gerous to the public—having regnrd to ! tho circumstances of the case, • including " the degree of light obtaining at the time. ' the nature, condition, and d'so of the 1 streets, and the amount of traffic which i was or might reasonably been expected " upon it at the time-by driving tho ' motor-car along Colombo Street on tho i wron" side of the street, and turnI ing "shnrply into Gloucester Street ' at 7.13 pni., also on tho wrong side of the street, on Sunday. June 20." Senior Detective Boddam conducted tho prosecution for the police. Mr. F. D. [ Sargant, with him Mr. C. S. Thomas, • represented the defendant, Henry Munro Fulton, indent agent, • was recalled. He said that at 7.13 p.m. ! on June 20 he noticed defendant's car go 1 round the Gloucester Street corner from ■ Colombo Street. He had never driven : with Paynter during the last four years, but he had known him for somo time. \ Mr. Sargant: I think you knew Payn- | ter during the war. 1 Witness: Yes. 1 Do' tou remember when he was in charge of the Mounted Police in London i and you" were in-the stores?—"l didn't ' know' him when he was in the police in ' London. I was ninety miles from Lon--1 don at the time." Did he not have to mako inquiries into ' some alleged theft in the stores whiere I you were engaged F—"No. What is the allusion?" .'„,,. , , Tho Magistrate (hurriedly taking down a notejof question and answer): Wait a ' minute Was thore not some suspicion cast ■ upon you?—"No, certainly not." Did not Paynter inquire into it?— I J know nothing at all about it and therefore Tcfnse to answer." i The Magistrate: You can't refuse to When Paynter was being cross-oxomin- ' ed didn't you suggest to the senior de- ' tective that Paynter should be asked a ' question in regard to his war service?— 1 '1 did not.". . 1 Did you sell any motor-cars in Eng- ' land?—"l had'two or thi-ee cars in ' England. Would you like to see the ret ceipts?" Do you know ns a fact that inquiries were being mado with regard to certain 'cars used in connection with the war, ' cars that were not accounted for?—" No." 'Do you know that there was serious trafficking in cars while you were in England?—"l don't understand." Tho Magistrate: Did you take part in • any trafficking in cars?-"No. The cars ■ I dealt in were my own." Mr. Sargant: When M you buy these ' cats?—" They were bought in Ireland i and shipped from Ireland to England." i No cars wero shipped by you from • England to Ireland P-'TJo." 1 Were any of those cars used in war work?-"No." i. Yon were aware that Paynter was cm--1 ployed with the police?—"Ho came I down to Sling Camp looking for a job in ' the kit stores, and then he got- into the i police, I think." Do you know that Paynter had then i served three years in the trenches?—"l ' don't want to know anything, about ' that." ■ . i Witness also stated that when asked ' by Constable' Packer he said he had ' known Paynter when he was in the Military Police • : Counsel: You never heard at any time I of trafficking in war stores in Sling, . then ?—"No. It is news to mo." I Witness went on to explain that he 1 had no grievance against Paynter. In reporting tbte Gloucester Street incident he had simply asked that Paynter be warned. When tho car turned into 1 Gloucester Street witness pulled back a • woman who was in danger of being run ' over. He did not know who the woman ' was, or whether the car had its hood up. Senior Detective Boddam: At the time 1 of this alleged trafficking in motor-cars ' whot were you doing?—"l was a private ' in the kit stores." ... • . ; Had vou anything to do with motori cars?— ! 'l did "some business on my own ' account." 1 Mr. Sargant: A private dealing in 1 motor-cars? ' Witness: I might havo been as good as • a general for all you know. The Senior Detective: Never -mind, that now. Did the Military Police over ques--1 tion you in regard to the disposal of war ■ stores? ■ \ Witness: No. ' Addressing the Court on the legal ns- • pect of the case, Mr. Thomas asked that tho information should be dismissed. He ■ contended that there had ten more than 1 an amendment of the charge; one alleged ■ offence had'been substituted for another • and the Court had not power to do that. The Magistrate said he would take ■ time to consider the matter