THEFTS FROM RAILWAY YARDS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 18

THEFTS FROM RAILWAY YARDS

FOUR SHUNTERS PLEAD GUILTY SENTENCE DEFERRED Dominion Special Service, Christchurch, July 10. When the four shunters recently arrested in connection with the pilfering of goods from the railway yards appeared on remand before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., to-day, they pleaded guilty to the charges of theft against them. As the men were servants of the Department the cases were originally brought as indictable, to be dealt with finally by a Judge and jury, but the Magistrate refused to permit the expense of the men being sent to the Supreme Court, as it was within his jurisdiction to deal with the men summarily if they so elected. Mr. R. Twynehain and Mr. C. b. Thomas, who represented three of the accused, also protested against the expense and trouble that would be caused by taking the cases to a jury. Detective-Sergeant Young said the pov lice shared these views. The accused were charged as servants of the Railway Department as follows; Ernest Alfred Dobier, on June 23, theft of a tin of honey valued at Ss.; Thomas Charles Harris Marks, on June 23, theft of a tin of honey valued, at Bs.: James Herbert South, on divers dates prior io June 27, theft of goods valued at £l9: Cecil Leslie Howard, on June 23, theft of one suitcase and four cardigans valued at £3 11s. 3d. „ , Detective-Sergeant Young outlined (he cases against Dobier and Marks. The tins of honey were stolen from a truck standing in the yards. Both men had admitted the thefts; both were shunters and had excellent records of service in the railway employ. Neither had been in any sort of trouble before. "My client Dobier is thirty-three, and has been in the employ of the Railway Department for many years, said Mr. Tynebam. “He says that the tin of honey was all he took, and he will say nothing to incriminate the others. It is quite apparent that he was not a leading spirit; he loses ( his job, which is an enormous penalty. . Dobier was convicted, sentence beia B same applies to my client Marks.” said Mr. Thomas. He has .seen thirteen years of. excellent service; he is a married man and has five children. It is one of those inexplicable cases.” > Accused was convicted and sentence IC Dealing with the case against Howard, Detective-Sergeant Young said that his house had been for honey, but none had been found. Howard admitted the theft/ of the suitcase and cardigans found. \ “He was Kethnf a rise to a position which would have assured him a sufficient income and lifted him above temptation, said Mr Thomas, who represented Howard. H< has a very good record of service, anc uo one can understand his action. Howard was convicted and judgment JLrrwrl. with five children

"South is married, wun u e and has had fourteen years good service,” said the prosecution. He made a statement in which he admitted the theft of these goods, a long series of which included vines ml spirits, as well aS Mr'° C j ne ß. r-Behek.r. who appeared for South, said tlmt the charge was more serious, but in other respects the circumstances were the same as with the others accused. There was no previous stain on South’s character. He got hard up, and the first theft was so easy that he followed it up. South came oft a very respectable family and his brothers would have come to his assistance had he told, them of his financial difficulties.” , South was convicted. “I must mention that claims made on the Department for stolen goods are fairly heavy,” said the detective-ser-Se The Magistrate: I had better give the matter of sentence some serious consideration. All the men will be remanded for sentence till Thursday. Bail was renewed • for each offender in the sum of £25 and one surety of £25 i "One cannot disguise the fact that these four men are up for practically similar offences and that they were all shunters,” commented Air. Mosley. This sort of thing has got to be stopped.