ELECTRIC CABLE STOLEN

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 72, 18 December 1926, Page 28

ELECTRIC CABLE STOLEN

PROPERTY OF CITY COUNCIL.

John Paton Hardy, a compositor, aged 22, and Leonard Emile Shirnack, a carrier, aged 21, appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon in the Magistrates Court yesterday on three charges of theft ot quantities of electric cable, the property of the Wellington City Council. Shirnack was alternately charged on three counts of receiving stolen goods. Hardy pleaded guilty lo his three charges and Shirnack pleaded not guiltv to all he had to answer. Evidence was given that on three occasions Hardv had commissioned Slurnack to take a quantity of insulated underground cable from a place between two small Harbour Board sheds near Clvde Quay to the former’s house in Adelaide Road, and then to a local brass foundry. On the last occasion thev had been watched, and when approached Hardy, in the words of one witness, had “scaled.” Shirnack had made a statement to the police that he did not know Hardy or where lie lived, and that that was the only occasion on which he had carried electric cable awav from that spot. He later admitted that he did know Hardy, and that he had taken lots of wire on two previous occasions. Mt E. Parrv who appeared for Shirnack. pointed/ out that this accused had received otilv the ordinary carriage fee on each transaction, and he had on no occasion any reason to suspect that the goods were stolen He had been much surprised when accosted in the act of taking the third lot, and had made no atempt to run awe*. The cable was not covered up. but was thrown on to the lorrv, and taken to the premises of a very reputable firm. There was nothing whatsoever to make Shirnack think otherwise than that everything was quite straightforward and above-board. Pleading the case of the accused Hardy, Mr B. J. Dolan said that the youth had had a life of misfortune. His mother and father had died of tuberculosis while he was an infant and in later rears he himself bad contracted the disease For the past 15 months he had been unable to work, and had been thrown on his own devices.

The Magistrate said that in the case of Shirnack the question was, was there sufficient evidence to connect him with the milt of knowing that the rnorls were dishonestly obtained ? Tt appeared that he had been nicked up on two occeF’ons at en enrlv hour, carried the cable to Adelaide Road, and was *old to come hack flgain. When he did eq he found that the cable wns stripped of its insulation That should Imve p*-o"ce'l snsnicion m ffie mind of anv honest man. The Magistrate tho"" 11 '- there was anmle evidence to fix: Shimack with the equity knowledge and said he must be convicted on (he alternate charges. It was clear that Hardv was the master mind, and Shirnack probel-lv succumbed to his suggestions. "Fortunately,” said Mr. Salmon. “there are in New Zealand prison farms ndmiraMv suited to men of Hardv’s description. He will undergo reformative detention for a period not exceeding two rears.” Shirnack was convicted on the three charges of receiving stolen goods and .admitted to probation for two rears, conditional on costs being paid and restitution made to the City Council.