"THE BRASS KING"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 11

"THE BRASS KING"

THEFTS FROM RAILWAY WORKSHOPS INTERESTING EVIDENCE. A CONVICTION RECORDED. Considerable interest was taken yesterday in the cases before the Magistrate's Court charging J. Watt with the theft of scrap metal from the Railway Workshops at Petone, and John L. Churchouso with receiving the same. Statements were made to the effect that thi3 class of theft was extremely prevalent. Churchouse, who was represented by Mr. T. M. Wilford, is a well-known railway man. Watt was represented by Mr. 11. F. O'Leary. James M'Caffrey, whoso evidence was recorded in last night's Post, was crossoxamined by Mr. O'Leary. He said that there were no oil-drums in the rubbish truck, as far as he could see, on tho 16th insl., but he saw a drum in the truck on the ' morning of the 17th. ; Tho day after Watt was served with the summons witness saw some scrap metal in the rubbish heap. To Chief -Detective Broberg : When he saw _ the metal on the rubbish heap it was just after a scare had been created in. the shops. It was not' usual to find metal among tho rubbish. Archibald Hartley, employed in > the fitting shop, said he saw a truck outside the sheds laden with rubbish. Ho saw a man climbing on to the truck with something which, apparently, he was anxious to hide. He watched the proceedings, and then saw a drum and a kerosene tin. The former appeared to have some brass in it. He was sure that the man on the truck was Watt. Mr. O'Leary : Do you know a man named Revell ? Witness : Yes. Are you particularly intimate with Revell ? — No, not> particularly. Do you know that Revell is annoyed because Watt has got his job '! — No. I would suggest that yon and Revell have put your heads together to get one back on to Watt? — No, decidedly not. Robert Henry Symons, stationmaster, Petone, said that he had a conversation with Churchouse, and Churchouse said that a friend had been telling others that the police were watching the brass. " Unfortunately," said Churchouse, "they forget to tell me." Witness said : " That's all right. Evidently you are not suspected." Detective Cameron stated that on the 17th inst. he went to Petone, where he saw a truck laden with rubbish standing in the railway yard, almost opposite the centre of the railway station. He kept a watch on the truck, and at 3,35 p.m. he saw Watt, in company with a shunter named Arnold. They came from the direction of the shops, walked to the truck, and climbed up. He saw Watt remove a kerosene tin frpm the truck. Watt also removed some rubbish. Just then some of the platform staff came out, and the men got off the truck and stood behind it. Tljey then went to the end of the truck, and he saw Watt look round the corner towards the platform. Shortly after a train had been despatched the pair separated, Watt going towards the shops. About 5 p.m. Constable Meiklejohn met witness, and the two police officers concealed themselves. At about 5.40 o'clock the lights on the railway platform were turned out, leaving a light on the up platform at tho mouth of the subway burning. The truck was left in semi 'darkness, but it was not too dark to see anybody's movements. * At 6.10 p.m. they heard someone crossing the line. When that person reached the line on which some luggage vans stood, he turned and walked straight for the truck. He went to one corner of the truck and removed a tin. He then went away from the truck to the platform, and returned a few minutes later for the oil-drum. This he carried with him, walking in a direct line for Churchouse's home. The man was intercepted, and proved to be Churchouse himself. When asked what he was 'doing with the metal he replied that "Watt said Arnold had told him that there was some metal in the rubbish truck that was going to be watched and he had been to take it out.'* Churchouse said that he first knew the metal was in the truck when he finished work at 4.30 p.m. When witness asked why he had not reported tho matter he made no reply. "We went back on tho railway platform, and I detained Churchouse and brought him into town," said witness, "where 1 charged him with theft." Mi\ Wilford i If Churchouse. in his position of ganger, knew that the stolen Eroperty was in the truck, would it not c his duty to take the metal out of the truck? The question was not definitely answered. Mr. Wilford said that his client contended that he was at liberty to take the goods, knowing that they were stolen, into his own house. Churchouse was a man with an unusually good character. Perhaps Churchouse should have reported the fact that the stolen property was in the trucks — counsel was not sure of that. ' At any rate, ' Churchouse claimed that he had done his duty. Churchouse was then put in the witness box. He stated that he had known Watt for about two years. As he was entering the gate outside his cottage on the evening of the 17th Watt called out to him. and told him there was a, tin in the truck of rubbish half filled with metal. Ho said that Arnold and himself had been looldng at the 'tin, and at Arnold's suggestion Watt tokl witness. Witness said the drum should not be there, and promised to deal with it. Later, he picked the drum out of tho truck, and he intended to place it in the workslwps territory at the end of the testing road. He was not far from that spot when he was apprehended. Ho did not know that the goods had been stolon, and there was a possibility of some tired workman placing the drum in the truck instead of emptying it into the bins provided. To Chief Detective Broberg: He was not in tho least suspicious as to where the metal came from. His Worship dismissed tne charge against Churchouse, who, he thought,' ac ganger would, have authority to removo the drum. He was satisfied that Churchouse was not guilty. Mr. O'Leary reviewed the evidence as regards his client. Was it likely, ho asked, that Watt would tell Churchouso that the metal was on the truck if he was guilty? Watt was convicted, his Worship commenting on the strength of' evidence given by Messrs. M'Caffrey and Hartley. Chief Detective Brobergsaid that much metal was repeatedly missed from the shops. Watt was known as the "Brass King," though he did not work in brass. His Worship imposed a fine of £3, with 30s witnesses's expenses, in default one month in gaol.