THEFT OF CARPETS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 4

THEFT OF CARPETS

Married Man Committed For Sentence STOLE FROM EMPLOYERS Pleading guilty to a charge that on or about December 1, 1933, and between then and August 15, 1936, being a servant in the employ of James Templeton and Company, carpet manufacturers and warehousemen, he committed the theft of carpets of a total value of £248/15/7. the property of his employers, Henry George Pearce, warehouseman, a married man, aged 38, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence by Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday. There being no evidence offered by the prosecution, a second charge that on or about May 1, 1932, and between then and August 22, 1936, he committed the theft of carpets valued at £252/7/2, belonging to James Templeton and Co., was dismissed. The prosecution was conducted by Detective-Sergeant L. Revell, and Mr. G. Mellish represented accused. William Harold Crawford, manager of James Templeton and Co., Wellington, said accused had been in the employ of the company for 15 years, until August 27 last, when he was dismissed because of his dishonesty in respect to the present charge. Accused was in charge of the warehouse, and supervised the dispatch of carpets. He had no authority to dispose of stock outside the usual routine, and had no right to receive or handle any money on behalf of the company. On August 31 last, following certain discoveries, witness interviewed accused, who admitted shortages amounting to approximately £250A money-lender, Whitfield Forster, Wellington, gave evidence of business dealings he bad had with accused over the past three years. In 1935 accused had told him that if he required any carpets he would be able to supply him, and on July 16, 1935, he went to the warehouse and selected some carpets which he picked up on the following Saturday from outside the main doorway of the warehouse. Witness understood he was purchasing the carpets from the company. In April, 1936, he and his wife again called at the warehouse and selected a carpet, which he collected about a week later. Witness had received accounts from accused for the carpets amounting to £l6/8/7, and £l2/17/7, for which he had received receipts on the company’s forms. On both 'occasions that he had taken delivery it'was after closing hour. When accused was arrested on September 4 by Detectives N. Baylis and W. R. ■Murray, he expressed a desire to make & confession, said Detective Murray. In his statement accused admitted having acted in a dishonest manner, and explained how he had covered up his wrong doings. Drink had been the cause of his trouble. The money received from the sale of carpets was spent mostly on drink, and in living beyond his means. Since June he had sold carpets to the value of £122, which had been spent in two months. Most of it had 'been spent in the payment of debts to a money-lender, and other creditors. There was no hope of his making restitution. Detective Murray said that when interrogated by the police accused had been exceedingly frank and had given every assistance. Bail was allowed in self £l5O, or two sureties of £75 each, conditional on accused reporting to the police twice a ■week.