WAREHOUSE THEFTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 5

WAREHOUSE THEFTS.

SYSTEMATIC ROBBERY ACCUSED SENTENCED. Bertie Smith and Ernest Charles Gregory were called on at the Supreme Court to-day to be punished for a series of warehouse thefts in Wellington. Alfred Smith also cams up for receiving a quantity of the stolen property. Mr. A. L. Herdman appeared for the Smiths, and Mr. A, Grey appeared for Gregory, Mr. Herdmau said the cases were very unfortunate. His clients had lived in the city for nearly twenty years, and they had borne exemplary characters until three or four months ago, when they had taken to the paths of crime. A number of letters had been received by him and forwarded to his Honour, «nd he handed up one from Mr. R. A. •Wright, M.P.. If hi« clients could make reparation, could probation be granted ! Hia Honour (Mr. Justice Chtpman} f .Robberies have been committed in Wei' litigton, from time to time, and there eeenwd to be a conspiracy to corrupt etoremen, It i« not onjy a matter between. TurflbuU's and A. 8, jfMer&m and Co, There is the question of pub* Jic interest. I am quite sure that the Judges show due leniency to early and young offenders, but thid ie a aystematic robbery of employers, prying disastrous to the employee. This has to bo checked, Mr. Herdman : There is no evidence that anyone tried to corrupt tbo storeman. His Honour : The storeman joined them. We don't know who be^an it, but he waa only twenty-one years of age. Mr, Gray submitted that Gregory's case was different from the others. as ho had been, tempted by on* of his corn., pamons. He had only come from London two years age His character had been of the best, Counsel had a sympathetic letter from his fellow employees at A, S, Paterion and Co. 'a. He a«ked for probation oft behalf of Gregory. "So far as Gregory is concerned," eaid his Honour, "I am not prepared to grani. him probation, but I will not sentence him to-day. I will d«al with hk case on Monday. I am very sorry indeed to have to sentence the Smiths, but I cannot do otherwise." Addressing the two accused his Honour eftid ! '.'You have both taken part in a conspiracy to commit these offences, which were managed with cunning. If you had not been detected, 1 have no doubt the offence* would have gone otf. You w*r« running, your store partly on stolen goods, and you had invented a system oy which you corrupted a storetrian, and were proceeding" to corrupt another. You. Alfred Smith, lent yourself as a willing tool, and w«© taking a share of the money. Both of you are far worse offenders than the storeman, assuming it to be trite that the storetmm vm corrupted by you.*' Bertie Smith was sentenced to twelve months' and Alfred Smith to nine months' imprisonment,