THREE MONTHS' GAOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 129, 27 November 1940, Page 11

THREE MONTHS' GAOL

FARMER'S OIL FUEL

LICENCE

80 GALLONS INSTEAD OF 8

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 26,

"Operations by the accused on his oil fuel licence show deliberate and flagrant fraud," said Detective-Sergeant Walsh when Corneille Hubert de May, farmer, aged 47, appeared in the Magistrate's Court on four charges of purchasing petrol not in accordance with the consumer's licence issued under the Oil Fuel Regulations, 1939. The accused also faced five charges of wilfully detaining postal packets.

Mr. Aekins, who appeared for the accused, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Evidence was given that on July 6 the accused was issued with a special oil fuel licence entitling him to eight gallons up to August 5. Entries on the back of the licence showed that a total of 80 gallons had been obtained on twelve different occasions and the amount mentioned on the accused's licence had been altered to 80 gallons. The petrol had been signed for under several different names.

Counsel submitted that the accused was in the habit of lending his car to other people and said the accused declared that the signatures were not his. The accused said he knew nothing about the alteration 'of the amount of petrol.

Mr. Orr Walker, S.M., said that the accused must have known he had no authority to purchase 80 gallons of petrol. On each of the four charges he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, the ter.ms to be concurrent.

In evidence concerning the other charges it was stated that from January 4; 1939, the accused was the lessor of a postal box at the Chief Post Office. When police searched his home on October 18 cheques and dividend warrants addressed to others were found, and it was alleged that these had been placed in the accused's postal box by mistake.

Counsel said wilful detention had not been proved and that the accused had done nothing to try to negotiate the documents.

The accused was fined £5 on each of five charges.