ALLEGED THEFT OF RECORDS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 4

ALLEGED THEFT OF RECORDS

CHARGE AGAINST WAREHOUSEMAN Sidney Frederick "Williiim Vausu, : a warehouseman, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court. yesterday with stealing'sixteen gramophone., records, valued at £2, the property of Bannatyno .-and Hunter, Ltd. He was also charged with receiving from George Ashton Ferguson, a battery charger, an electric pick-up, and two valves, knowing them to ■ have been dishonestly obtained.- Mr. E. Page, S.M., was on the Bench,, and accused was represented by Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, who entered a plea of not guilty to both , charges. Chicf-Dcteetive Ward, who prosecuted, stated that accused was in charge of the gramophone department of his firm. As the result of inquiries which were being made in regard to some missing radio accessories from the. Natonal Electrical a.ud Engineering Company's premises, accused was Interviewed by detectives, to whom he admitted that he. had received radio parts from a man named Ferguson, of the National Electrical Company. He further admitted having given records to Ferguson. A number of witnesses stated that Vause took records and other apparatus to his home to use for testing purposes in connection with electric gramophones. Detective Jarrold stated that he, in company with Detective McLennan, interviewed accused, who said that he had given away records, most of which were samples, free of charge. The case for the defence was to the effect that even though Vause had signed a statement in the presence of Detective Jarrold, no theft had been committed. Mr. Mazengarb also denied that hi? client was guilty of receiving goods ’that had been dishonestly obtained. He did not wish to suggest that the detectives had acted in an unfair manner in obtaining the statement, but. he did think that Vause had been confronted by them rather suddentlv Vause was practically detained by them, and had more or less signed the statement . without fully appreciating his position or the meritorious defence he bad to the allegations. Mr. Mazengarb contended that Vause bad authority to dispose of records on behalf of the. firm. Counsel stated that the firm employing accused were not behind the prosecution, Vause bavins been brought into the matter in the course of Inquiries which were being made in respect to missing wireless stock. Evidence was given by Henry C. Hunter, managing director of Bannatyne ■ and Hunter, Ltd., who said that he had great confidence in Vause, and it was a• custom to give away samples. Instances "TiT the witness-box, accused stated that for some time he had been in close touch with members of the National Electrical anJ Engineering Co. He had with four or five members of the firm i connection with gramophone matters. After hearing the evidence (lie MaMjtrate decided that he would give a vrrltten decision next Friday. REVERSAL OF PLE.4. George Ashton Ferguson, a st< } r cman, was charged with stealing from the Nation Electrical and Engineering Cqmpanj Ltd., an electric and, three lamp a gr^ £ sle s aling G \ « a |n electric and firm CS ’and with receiving from Frederid: to have been dishonestly obtained. Ferguson pleaded guilty to the charge on Saturday last, and was remand ed for sentence. On the application M Mr A. B. Sfev wright, accused ‘' ds . a ' lowed to withdraw his plea, and pl|l 6f not guilty were entered to all tiir C Accused, who elected trial by jury, was remanded to appear on August la.