AFTER THE FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 25 May 1925, Page 6

AFTER THE FIRE

MATERIAL FOUND MISSING

BEIGADESMEN CHAEGED WITH

THEFT.

The disappearance of a quantity of material from an upholsterer's after a fire resulted in the appearance of two firebrigadesmen, Alec Milne (24) and Bernard Dynan (32) at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when they were charged with the theft of 9£- yards of moquette, valued at £9 10s; 7 yards of black satin, valued at £2 12s 6d; a bed tick, valued at 17s 6d; a, brace and bit, valued at 16s; making a total value of £13 16s, the property of Edward George M'Donald.

Mr. H. P. O'Leary, who appeared for the accused, said a plea of guilty would be entered to the theft of 1^ yards of material valued at £1 15s.

"Under the circumstances the request is reasonable," remarked Chief Detective Kemp. "We have only been able to trace 1£ yards to the possession of the accused. I only differ to the extent of 2s 6d from Mr. O'Leary, and value the material at £1 17s 6d."

The information was amended, and the accused were charged with the theft of 1^ yards of material.

"About 8.30 p.m. on 15th.May a fire occurred at 186, Vivian street, a threestory building owned by Yeitch and Allan," explained, the Chief Detective. "M'Donald is an upholsterer, and occupies the second floor. The firo brigade was quickly on the scene, and soon had the outbreak under control. Tlio two accused are members of the fire brigade, and were left in charge of the property. Some time after, it was discovered that the property mentioned in the charge was missing, and matter was placed hi the. hands of Detectives Jarrold and M'Leumin, with the result that they went to the firu brigade station and interviewed the accused, who admitted complicity in taking 1£ yards; in fact, the material was found in the locker of Milne."

The Chief Detective added that both the accused .\ v r« young men who had never been before the Court previously. "I submit," said Mr. O'Leary, "that the accused should be treated as first offenders, and dealt with by being granted probation, or by being fined. It. would seem from the circumstances that there was no great criminal design or intention shown. The material was taken to the room they occupied in the fire brigade station. There was no sign of secrecy, and when the police camo they explained how and why they had come in possession of it. They saw the material on the floor, damaged and wut, and Dyniyi, who takes the responsibility for tho greater part of the offence, said. 'This piece of stufl would do all' right for the shelves in our room," and Milne arranged for Uynan to take it away." Counsel contended that the act showed that both the men submitted to a sudden temptation. There was nothing to suggest that they intended making anything out of the theft, or had any "intention of selling the stuff. Tho conviction alone, he said, Would be a very heavy penalty, which would be detrimental to them in life. "I ask your Worship to look upon it as a case of sudden temptation," he said.

When the Court sat this afternoon, his Worship said that after considering the report of the Probation Officer, he had decided to admit the accused to probation for one year, on the usual conditions...

Messrs. ,!. H. Bcthune and Co. will offer for auction at I heir rooms. ]?ea therstou street, on \\edneiday next, at 2.i0 p.m., a warehouse property, No. 101. Thoradon ouay.