THEFT OF TWO CASES OF BENZINE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 246, 12 July 1921, Page 6

THEFT OF TWO CASES OF BENZINE

FROM THE RAILWAY YARD. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., Charles W. Hanning (Mr. J. Scott) pleaded guilty to the theft of two cases of benzine, value 655., the property of the Gov ernment. Chief Detective Ward, in detailing the facts of the case,- said that on July 4 the R-ailw-ay Department had several trucks of benzine in the station yard for dispatch. Benzine could not be k“pt under cover, and the trucks were therefore standing in the yard. About 7 o’clock that evening a porter saw a nv-n carrying a case of the benzine in bis shoulders. He went forward to investigate, but lost sight of the man; he, however, found two cases removed from the trucks. A watch was kept, and at 7.30 p.m. this man came along in a motor-car with two others, got into the yard, and was about to hand the benzine to his companions when he was apprehended. The chief detective added that the accused was a married man, who belonged to a good family, and was given every opportunity to make good. He had done no work for the past, twelve months, but knocked about town drinking. He had served three months’ imprisonment for failing to maintain his wife, and another similar term was pending. Mr. Scott Baid that the accused was not the instigator of the, theft, although he knew what he was doing The man was not really a criminal, and it wm only when he took liquor that he want wrong. He was willing Jo submit to a prohibition order, and go into the country and join his brother-in-law, a farmer, who was prepared to have him. His wife also was willing to assist him. The Magistrate asked the probation officer (Mr. Mills) if he knew anything of Hanning. "He is a waster,” replied Mr. Mills. "I think so. too,” remarked the Magistrate, who immediately sentenced Hanning to two months’ imprisonment.