CREPE DE CHINE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1923, Page 8

CREPE DE CHINE

CARRIER BEFORE THE COURT.

A carrier named Edmund Robinson, formerly employed by the firm of Makower, M'Beth Ltd., silk importers, wai charged at the Supreme Court to-day with the theft of five rolls of crep6 de chine valued at £50, and, alternatively, with receiving the material. He pleaded not guilty. Mr. Justice Reed presided, Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown, and the prisoner - was- represented by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, Mr. H. J. Sproulo was foreman of the jury. Mr. Macassey said that the accused was employed as a carrier for the firm in question. It was allaged that the accused suggested to two youths employed by the same firm that they should procure the crepe de chine, and he (the accused) would dispose of it, giving them a share of the proceeds. One of the young men procured the goods and gave them to the other youth, who packed them and passed them on to the accused. Altogether there were five boxes. It would be shown that Robinson called upon a woman, and eventually disposed of-rolls of crepe de chine at £3 15s per roll. When interviewed the accused denied that he had ever stolen or received the goods. The serious aspect of the case, said Mr. Macassey, was that the man had apparently induced two* youths to stoop to dishonesty. After calling evidence as to the character _of the accused Mr. O'Leary eaidi that in a case where dishonesty was involved the jury was entitled to give due weight to the previous character of the prisoner. The Crown had produced a large number of witnesses, but he submitted that ' the evidence very largely was unreliable. He had been amused at Mr. Macassey's pathetic reference to the "boy 3," who, it was stated, had been led astray by the accused. He had expected to see lads of 12 years or so in the box, but instead of that they had had men who did not look innocent, and were not by any means innocent. The jury retired shortly before the luncheon adjournment. At 2.25 o'clock this afternoon the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. ;